Hat-Yai - Songkhla 'Old Road' Widening

[GWR]

Is the old Hat-Yai to Songkhla road on the point of being widened? There seem to be some clues that this long awaited & much needed project might be on the cards.

(1)There are survey crews working at several points on the road.
(2) A short section of Dual Carriageway was recently added to take the four lane sections right up to Hat-Yai City limits near the end of thepark.
(3) Some kind if construction work is commencing alongside an existing road bridge over a Klong near Nam Noi intersection.
(4) There are what look like very large road drains being put in, in the vicinity of Songkhla Canning.

This road certainly needs widening from it's current 1.5 Lane - 1.5 Lane Undivided format, as this has long been considered one of the most dangerous roads in Thailand. However, much have its length is quite built-up. One wonders whether the road engineers might opt for a full 4 Lane Undivided format to allow local vehicles to cross over without travelling to a U-Turn. They have already done this on the main drag through Pattani Province. I guess it's also easier to find the necessary space for such a 4-Lane road in a built-up area, if you forego a central reservation. However, the dreaded Pho Thong have a tendency to use as many lanes simultaneously as they can lay their hands on, for bus racing. :mad: ;) A divider might curb their worst excesses.

[GWR]

This project IS to go ahead shortly, although the evidence seems to be that it has already started. Expect big delays and inconveniences on this route. Luckily, there are alternative routes. Maybe we can run an informal traffic advisory here.

[rodfaithai]

Road Widening?

There are 2 contracts in this project.

The winner who win the bidding are

- EUNG-TONG-GEE partnership limited
(It's Asphaltic Concrete Mixing Plant is located on 414 road, not far from "Big-C")
and
- Hat Yai PSM construction Co.Ltd.
(It's head office located near Hatyai Bus Terminal)

These 2 companies win many road projects around here.


According to the national election result (in April 2006),
the budget of this project was cut hundreds million B.
So the concrete median of this road was changed to road marking.

:mad:

[rodfaithai]

We'd like to see you come here more often

I will.

:)

[rodfaithai]

Promises that are meant to be broken

Not only 407 widening project's budget was cut, but also all other projects.

Such as the Exhibition Center's budget was also cut from 700 MB to 400 MB.



Yesterday someone in rotfaithai.com ask me

"Is there any plan for dual railway track in Southern line ?"

I said,

It's just a dream right now.

If Mr.Mark become a prime minister, this dream may become true.


However the new bridge over the 1st royal canal project,

the bridge's support is built for dual track
let's see the photos from...
http://www.thaitransport.net/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=669#

You'll see galvanized steel member of this bridge in the photo.

My camera is out of order, so I have no my own photo in this trip.

My photos on Dec 25, 2005 is here...
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v489/rodfaithai/Bridge/BAN%20DIN%20LAN/Dec%2025%202005/

The civil work's budget is 37 MB.
The (sub)contracter is "AS-SA-WA-ANG-GOON" partnership Ltd. who built the new Hat Yai under pass.

The bridge work's budget is 20 BM.
The builder is a Thai company in Thon-Buri (I could not remember it's name)

This bridge have 3 span,
- the north and south spans are 20 m wide
- the middle span is 50 m wide

The elevation of the bridge is 2 m higher than the old track.

Then you'll see many equipments overlay additional embankmant to reach the new elevation.

The contract date-line is Sep, 2006 (360 days period)

The project's site engineer got M.Eng from my Fac.

[GWR]

Road Widening?
According to the national election result (in April 2006),
the budget of this project was cut hundreds million B.
So the concrete median of this road was changed to road marking.
:mad:

I get the drift. No central reservation. The psychopath drivers at Pho Thong Transport will be pleased. Two additional overtaking lanes for racing each other and forcing all the rest of the traffic off the road.

Incidentally, the whole bus transport situation to Songkhla is absolutely fascinating. It's blatantly obvious that Pho Thong have a totally blase attitude towards public safety and road safety. I recently watched one of their drivers run a red light well after the light had changed, and the policeman on duty didn't even look mildly surprised. I have noticed that Pho Thong is one of those organizations who sponsor stuff like those useless intersection police boxes.

I used to think I was the only person who got uptight about the murderous ways of Pho Thong bus drivers, but I recently heard an account of a motorist totally losing his cool with a Pho Thong driver. The guy was so incensed at being carved up by a Pho Thong bus, that he overtook the bus and deliberately blocked the road with his 4WD. He then got out of his vehicle and ranted and raved at the driver for about 10 minutes, while a traffic jam built up. Needless to say the piece of cowardly chicken shit in the cab bolted his door and wouldn't come out.

[rodfaithai]

That's why I speak in many meeting rooms to bring back the Hatyai-Songkhla rail line.

The 407 road is one of the most deadly road in Thailand.

And it may become more deadly after this widening project is finish.

[GWR]

Promises that are meant to be broken
Not only 407 widening project's budget was cut, but also all other projects.
Such as the Exhibition Center's budget was also cut from 700 MB to 400 MB.


Well, I suppose there is the possibility that this was a deliberate act related to the unrest further South. Actually, I doubt it. It was probably murder, either way! Monk's robes show up pretty well in the half-light:

Buddhist monk, novice killed by pick-up truck while collecting alms


Songkhla - A Buddhist monk and novice were killed when a speeding pick-up truck rammed them down while they were collecting alms. The two died at the scene.

The truck sped off after following the accident which happened at 6 am near the Khoksung Temple in Hat Yai district.

Police said the two were just leaving their temple for 300 metres to collect alms when the truck hit them.

Police begged eyewitnesses, if any, to provide them details of the truck.


This has long been one of the most dangerous roads in Thailand. I would imagine they were trying to cross the road in the early morning gloom. The road at this point has just been widened into four lanes. No central divider was built, as former PM Thaksin Shinawatra decided not to finance the full package out of spite for a distinct lack of electoral support in the area. :mad: The temple is just over the blind brow of a hill (Khok Sung), and is dangerous enough at the best of times. Traffic probably belts along there even faster now, and with no divider is able to indulge in 'fun' activities like multiple-lane overtaking. I kid you not!!!

It's actually quite a quiet area, once you are off the speed-crazed highway. I doubt there were many pedestrian eyewitnesses at that time! Any drivers following would have kept going for fear of being implicated in the murder of two people in orange. Or even to avoid taking a beating from incensed locals!