An artist’s rendering of the proposed tunnel
under
the Sukhumvit and Central Road intersection.
Phasakorn Channgam
Pattaya officials are hoping a proposal to build a tunnel
to relieve traffic congestion at the intersection of Central and Sukhumvit
roads will be approved by November.
At the second public hearing on the Sukhumvit bypass
project Aug. 1, Arun Sangchai from the Department of Rural Roads Office 3
said, if approved, construction could begin in November and run for two
years.
The Central-Sukhumvit junction bypass - which calls for
four subterranean lanes to be built under the busy intersection to separate
through and downtown Pattaya-bound traffic - is just one of four the city
wants to see built. Other bypasses would be constructed at the Sukhumvit
terminus of North, South and Thepprasit roads.
However, consultants hired last year from King Monkut’s
University of Technology determined that Central Road was the most congested
of all four intersections and should be the first bypass built, Arun said.
A feasibility study is currently underway and
environment-impact surveys still need to be completed before the proposal is
submitted to the Cabinet for funding. However, officials say the importance
of Pattaya as a tourist destination and its proximity to Laem Chabang Port
means the odds will be good the project is approved in order to facilitate
tourism and logistics.
At the hearing, rendering of the Central Road bypass went
on display. The 18-meter-wide roadway would run 975 meters in length and run
from Central Road to Soi Pornprapanimit. Signs, sculptures, grass and
flowers will be added to beautify the bypass. Two U-turn points will also be
added.
At this stage, it was not made known how the city might
handle the flooding problem in regards to a tunnel.
