Construction to widen Beach Road is taking a toll on beach umbrella vendors as annoyed sun worshippers are finding quieter places to sunbathe.
Workers have dug up sidewalks and plants at the northernmost end of Pattaya Beach and are now rebuilding the sidewalk. Work to widen the road is scheduled to reach Soi 5 by June 7. Unwilling to put up with the dust and noise, beach goers are staying away.
Continuing construction on Beach Road is causing some problems for beach vendors, as tourists are opting to go elsewhere to sunbathe.
Sroisuwan Penthong, who has been renting beach chairs for 26 years, said fences around the work zone are blocking access to her parcel of sand. Some tourists who do wiggle through have gotten hurt.
Nutjarin Khumkaokaew, a 20-year-old Bangkok tourist, said he won’t return to Pattaya until construction is complete.
German Thomas Krause, 52, approved of the road-widening project, but fears increased access to the sand will only exacerbate current water quality and beach pollution problems.
Work on the beachfront project will continue in phases and is not expected to be completed until March.
