Additional lanes to reduce greenery, may not solve traffic woes, mayor admits
Pattaya has begun removing Beach Road sidewalks and plants as it prepares to begin the controversial widening of the beachfront thoroughfare.
City contractors March 28 began removing trees and cement walkways near the Dusit curve. Work on the 144 million baht project will continue through March next year.
The widening is part of the city’s overall renovation of Pattaya Beach, which includes rebuilding the eroded beach and widening overcrowded Beach Road from three lanes to four. City officials have pledged to restore plants and trees removed, albeit it with 3.5 meters less real estate to work with.
City workers have begun widening Beach Road in Pattaya by one, 3.5 meter wide lane.
“Park areas, I admit, will be smaller. But the city has not abandoned the environment,” Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said. “As for increasing traffic lanes, I can’t say this will solve 100 percent of the problem, but it is our intention to try to alleviate traffic issues.”
Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome said the project is cut into nine phases, each one running 300 meters. Considered an urgent issue, roadwork is supposed to run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until complete.
Itthiphol warned that the road widening will continue for a year and drivers should try to use other north-south routes when possible.
