Construction could begin in October
An artist’s rendering of
the proposed traffic tunnel under the intersection of Central and
Sukhumvit roads.
Phasakorn Channgam
Construction of a traffic-relief tunnel under the
intersection of Central and Sukhumvit roads could begin as soon as
October after Pattaya officials approved the 800 million baht project.
Approval of 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 -
comes after several public hearings showing off various designs. Public
feedback centered on a roofed roadway, 1,900 meters long, running from
Pornprapanimit Road, under Sukhumvit and ending on Central Road.
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome explained that only 420
meters of the roadway would be covered. The 20-meter-wide roadway will
have air ventilators, drainage, security cameras and a fire extinguisher
system. There will also be a U-turn constructed in the middle of the
tunnel with and island adorned with dolphin sculptures.
The Department of Rural Roads will soon take the
city’s plans to the national government for budgeting. Construction is
hoped to begin in October, about 10 months after Itthiphol’s original
prediction, and is estimated to last just 27 months, although Pattaya’s
record on road projects, such as Jomtien Beach’s Second Road, is often
off the mark by years.
While the years of construction likely will make
traffic worse, Itthiphol promised that the tunnel, when completed, will
see congestion drop precipitously. “Traffic is one of the main obstacles
to tourism,” the mayor said.
Pattaya officials later want to build bypasses at the
Sukhumvit terminus of North, South and Thepprasit roads.
