Pattaya endured days of traffic chaos again as parts or all of Sukhumvit Road and the Central Road bypass tunnel were closed for construction of a wheelchair-accessible pedestrian bridge.
Traffic inspector Pol. Maj. Aruth Sapanon led officers to the northern end of the tunnel zone Sept. 3 as they prepared to close the tunnel at 8 a.m. for the day-long work to raise and connect the deck of the new overpass near the Redemptorist School for Persons with Disabilities.
A 400-ton crane truck was anchored on the traffic island lifts the 80-ton, 43-meter-long prefabricated superstructure onto supports on each side of the busy highway by school. The bridge, equipped with elevators on each side, is expected to open at year-end.
Engineers also used the period to remove the old bridge in front of Pattaya School No. 5.
From Sept. 2-6, the southbound side of the Central Road bypass tunnel was closed during evening hours, although the surface-level parallel road remained open.
On Sept. 3 only, northbound tunnel traffic was halted all day with the surface road remaining open.
On Sept. 6, all of Sukhumvit – both sides of the tunnel and the surface roads – were closed at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively, until midnight.
 |
 |
