Aborted last year, the plan to make Jomtien Beach Road a one-way thoroughfare could soon be revived, along with the oft-discussed idea of capping the number of beach masseuses.
At a July 14 Pattaya City Council meeting, Councilman Thongchai Ardzong complained that the number of women offering massages in Jomtien has grown rapidly and tourists are being pestered, leading to damage to the city’s tourism image.
Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon agreed about the increase in masseuses and said he already has told relevant agencies to organize a meeting to discuss putting limits on the number of people working the beach.
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay also told the council that city hall is working on reviving the plan to change Jomtien Beach Road into a one-way street, with opposing traffic traveling on Jomtien Second Road.
City and police officials bungled a similar plan in November when, after several meetings in which the public was not invited; Pattaya announced the change in traffic flow.
Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh announced on Nov. 13 – the day after the one-way system was supposed to begin as a one-month test project – that the new traffic plan was dropped due to the anticipated start of construction of a subterranean Central Road bypass under Sukhumvit Road.
Verawat said city planners are now surveying connecting routes and planning thoroughly to avoid the problems that torpedoed last year’s attempt.
