The city
has flicked the switch on an automated traffic control system
for both sides of the railway road.
Phasakorn Channgam
Pattaya is taking its third stab at getting traffic
lights working correctly along the 16 km New Road.
The city flicked the switch on an automated traffic
control system for both sides of the railway road Oct. 26. It marks the
third time officials have tried to regulate intersections since the roadway
between the Krathinglai Junction and Soi Chaiyapruek 2 fully opened last
year.
The original plan was to have the road offer two-way
traffic on each side of the tracks. That quickly proved impossible and the
city switched the roads to one-way on each side and added traffic lights to
allow cars to move across the lanes. But horrendous backups forced officials
to simply turn off the red and green lights.
The ATC system, which uses cameras and computers to
monitor traffic flow and time lights automatically, will finally solve
traffic problems, officials say. However, for now, the city is testing the
system to back up its beliefs and will make adjustments to the light-timing
algorithms before making the system permanent.
