Jomtien Beach Road is slated to
become a one-way street, similar to Pattaya Beach Road, starting Nov. 12 in a
one-month test to determine if it could permanently improve traffic flow.
Urasin Khantaraphan
Jomtien Beach Road will become a one-way street starting Nov. 12 in a
one-month test to determine if it could permanently improve traffic flow.
First proposed Aug. 26, the one-way plan was announced in early October in a
private meeting between Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho and local
officials, police and businesses.
The one-way flow will run from the Hanuman Statue curve to Soi Chaiyapruek, a
distance of two kilometers.
Traffic will flow south toward Sattahip and loop at Chaiyapruek Road. Northbound
traffic will run along Jomtien Second Road. There will be only three wide and
five minor sois providing connections between Beach and Second roads.
Sakchai justified the idea at the Aug. 26 meeting by saying the move - done
decades ago on Pattaya Beach Road - would double the number of lanes vehicles
can use and allow tour buses, minivans and taxis to stop without blocking half
the traffic lanes.
Attendees at the Aug. 26 meeting - who included residents, minivan operators,
the Pattaya Business & Tourism Association and Prasert Jaikla of the 14th
Military Circle - raised numerous objections to the proposal.
They pointed out that, unlike Pattaya, where Second Road is located relatively
close to Beach Road, the main connections between Jomtien Beach and Second roads
are the much-longer Chaiyapruek and Bunkachana streets.
That, they said, will make transit times much longer and more difficult.
The system will be tested for a month and a final decision made studying the
results to determine if the plan will be made permanent.
