RareRoundabouts:PhuketHeroines

[The Enforcer!]

Hey Guys,

Other than three obvious exceptions (Odeon, Wong Wian Yai and Victory Monument) why are there no roundabouts in Bangkok?

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

What is "Odeon"?

As the third one in Bangkok apart from Wongwian Yai and Victory Monument, Wongwian Yiisipsong Korakadakhom (22nd July Roundabout) would come to my mind. (At the edge of Chinatown, not far from Hualamphong.) Is that the same that you mean?

[Nekochan]

There are some reasons I posted about u turn and one way street.

You may notice that most roundabouts (all of them?) are in old BKK and Thonburi (except on Paholyotin). They were old roads built before WW2, if I got that right.

These roads were designed as roundabouts with statues in the middle to commemerate big events.

Ratchdamnern: June 24, 1932 (Democracy Day?)
Victory Monument: WW1
Plaplachai: 22nd of July?
Ram Indra: WW1 veterans?
Wong Wein Yai: King Thonburi

Most roundabouts in provincial cities have clock towers!! (somewhat predictable!!)

New roads after WW2 were highways and Department of Highway prefered American Association of Highway Standards, and Americans do not build roundabouts to connect highways and local streets..... they built interchanges!!

I think they build roundabouts in UK since they require less land and it works well. It is safe since you cannot drive that fast thru merging traffic.

I have never been to either England or Australia. But I think they tend to use the same UK standards. (South Africa, too?)

British and Australian residents may verify this!

By the way, Odeon roundabout? DON'T HAVE ANY CLUE!!

[The Enforcer!]

Originally posted by Nekochan
By the way, Odeon roundabout? DON'T HAVE ANY CLUE!! [/B]

Obviously my Thai friends are mistaken, they say it is the old name of Wongwian Yiisipsong Korakadakhom.

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

Originally posted by Nekochan
These roads were designed as roundabouts with statues in the middle to commemerate big events.

Ratchdamnern: June 24, 1932 (Democracy Day?)
Victory Monument: WW1
Plaplachai: 22nd of July?
Ram Indra: WW1 veterans?
Wong Wein Yai: King Thonburi:o oops, how could I forget Democracy Monument? And yes, there is the Phahonyothin/Ram Indra Roundabout as well. So we have five. Good explanation as to their origin. But Victory Monument was built in remembrance of the Thai casualties in the war against colonial France in Cambodia in the 1930s/40s (not WW I). And "King Thonburi" should be "King Taksin", right?

[Wisarut]

Ther are several circle (round about in BKK) such as

1) Victory Monument (initially it is Sanam Pao Intersection until June 24, 1942 0- the day when Victory Monument was inaugurated)

2) Democracy Monument (initially an intersection between Khok Wua intersection and Phan Fah intersection .... unti the opening of Democracy Monument on June 24, 1940)

3) Wongwian Yai, this one was constructed in 1937 but the monument of Kign Taksin the Great was erected in 1954.

4) Wongwian Lek ... a smaller circle next to Wongwian Yai near Ban Khaek intersection, Thonburi

5) Odean Circle - the place where Yaowarat and Charoenkrung Road intsect .... it has been change from intersection to circle around 1930's ...

6) 22 July CIrcle ... this one is the circle next to Odean circle

7) Chiang Kong circle - a small circle on Charoen Krung road in Chiang Kong area

There used to be Kiak kai circle ... but now it has become an interchange.

8) Lak Si circle (the beginnign of Ram Indra and Chaeng Watthana Road) ... Thise one used to be a good circle unti the corrupt BMA office truned itn oan itner change ---> a usual way to spend the budget surplus whcin was supposed to be returned since they feel afraid that they woudl not be able to call for more budget if there is ANY surplus ... Later on, BMA has to rectify the broblem by turnign that intersection into circle ... but the irreversible damage has been inflicted ...

[Hitesh]

Originally posted by Nekochan
I have never been to either England or Australia. But I think they tend to use the same UK standards. (South Africa, too?)

British and Australian residents may verify this!

I have never been to the UK but I can verify that Sydney has a lot of roundabouts. They are rare in the CBD but aplenty outside of that area. The CBD is quite small mind you (compared to Bangkok).
Melbourne is quite different from what I saw. The cbd has uniformed blocks and the road system to the suburbs was different to that of Sydney.

[pong]

even though I am Dutch, I've visted the real UK=GB more as 22 times and all parts too (Scotland, Wales etc.) and there the round-about is about THE way to handle crossing roads, also here in NL, but then only for minor roads.

[pong]

and yesterday I found another one, not in BKK itself, but mahanakorn: in rangsit, at the entrance to the tescoLotus shop.

[GWR]

Roundabouts are essentially for serious countries. Whatever took them so long to get rid of this mundane landmark (which is somewhat more famous than most of Phuket's beaches)?:

Monday, January 21, 2008
Chalong Circle to be removed?


http://www.phuketgazette.com/newsimages/bull1212008-6230-1.jpg
[Photo: Phuket Gazette]

FULL CIRCLE: Chalong Circle will be removed and traffic lights installed at the busy five-way junction, if Saroj Suwinchai, director of the provincial office of the Highways Department, has his plan approved.

CHALONG: Motorists in the southern end of the island may soon be missing their favorite landmark as the provincial highways office is considering removing Chalong Circle and installing traffic lights at the five-way junction.

Saroj Suwinchai, director of the provincial office of the Highways Department, told the Gazette that the idea behind the proposal is to relieve traffic congestion at the junction.

“Our plan is to remove the roundabout and install traffic lights on the four main roads at the junction that lead to Kata-Karon [Patak Rd], to the bypass road [Chao Fa East Rd], to Phuket City [Chao Fa West Rd] and to Rawai [Wiset Rd].

“Vehicles entering the junction from Chalong Pier will be forced to turn left onto Wiset Rd. They must do a U-turn and come back and wait at the lights to enter the junction again,” he said.

However, before the plan can go ahead, agreement must be reached with the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) on what is to be done with the fountain that sits in the middle of the roundabout.

“I have discussed the idea with the OrBorJor officer who is responsible for the fountain. Although the roads are our responsibility, the fountain is the OrBorJor’s and we must have their permission to remove it,” K. Saroj explained.

Prasong Manokarn, chief of OrBorJor’s department of civil works, told the Gazette, “I have talked with K. Saroj about the plan twice within the past two months. It’s possible because we don’t need a large budget to do it and it can been done quickly – and it will reduce the number of serious traffic jams there.

“However, I must get the approval of the OrBorJor council, which will meet soon,” he said.
http://www.phuketgazette.com/news/index.asp?id=6230

[Jromerz]

7) Chiang Kong circle - a small circle on Charoen Krung road in Chiang Kong area


Is that the small roundabout at the southeast corner of the Grand Palace complex?

[Wisarut]

Is that the small roundabout at the southeast corner of the Grand Palace complex?

NO - It is within Sampheng area ... before reachng Hua Lampong

For the case of the small roundabout at the southeast corner of the Grand Palace complex, it is Sanam Chai Intersection

[Jromerz]

Ok.. So we can add Sanam Chai roundabout to the list also then :D

All of Bangkok has only 9 roundabouts?? oh wait.. there's another one on Rachaphruek road around Bang Kruai, but that's Nonthaburi.

[Ahoerstemeier]

All of Bangkok has only 9 roundabouts?? oh wait.. there's another one on Rachaphruek road around Bang Kruai, but that's Nonthaburi.
You mean this one (http://wikimapia.org/#lat=13.82462&lon=100.448706&z=16&l=5&m=a&v=2), right. It's a rather odd roundabout, as there is a flyover in east-west direction, only those driving north-south have to use the circle.

[Jromerz]

Yes, that's the one i was referring to :)

Definitely an odd roundabout, similar to the Laksi one (but that has a tunnel under it).

[Jromerz]

one more to add to the list:

Bang Lumpoo roundabout

[GWR]

The road around the Heroines Monument in Phuket is planned to be widened to aid traffic flow

The roundabout road around the Heroines Monument in Phuket is planned to be widened from 3 lanes to 5 lanes to enable better traffic flow. The Deputy Phuket Governor Worapote Ratasrima said the local government of Srisunthorn, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization and the Highway are working together and that it is in a design stage. The president of Srisunthorn Administration Organization, Thamrong Tantiwatchakul stated that it plans to provide some parking spaces and have a zebra crossing to facilitate people who pay homage to the monument which is located in the middle of the road. He also countered the idea to build an overpass saying that it is not appropriate as it would be higher than the monument which is respected by many locals.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews2.php?news_id=101