Authorities apologise for Rama II traffic jam

[Nereus]

As posted on the tourist thread, some Thais cannot count:
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Authorities apologise for Rama II traffic jam

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... raffic-jam

Rama II expansion work draws numerous complaints

of Highways has apologised to the public for chronic traffic congestion caused by the expansion of traffic lanes on Rama II Road in Bangkok.

Director-general Kamol Muntham said on Friday Rama II, which is used by more than 200,000 large lorries daily, is the main throughway for traffic to the southern region.


Mr Kamol said traffic congestion was the result of the department's road construction project to widen the 11.7km Bang Khunthian-Ekkachai interchangeThe apology came after social media complaints about bumper-to-bumper congestion on the road went viral. stretch by four lanes to 14.

The project is divided into three phases. The 3.5km first phase is from Bang Khunthian to Samae Dam Interchange. The 4.1km second phase covers Samae Dam-Soi Phanthai Norasaing and the 4.1km third phase runs from Soi Phanthai Norasing to Maha Chai Muang Mai.

The four additional lanes involves one lane each on the service road and main road for both inbound and outbound traffic. In addition, two U-turn bridges will also be added on the road.

Construction is expected to finish within three months, Mr Kamol said.

When completed, the expansion will be able to accommodate additional traffic, he added.

Rama 2 road.jpg (40.94 KiB) Viewed 1053 times

[HHTel]

Which is why it took me 5 and a half hours from the airport 2 days ago. I went to the airport on a different route so wasn't prepared for the mess returning via Rama II.

[caller]

I drove to Bkk yesterday afternoon and positively sailed through! Same as two weeks ago, but the time before that I went by bus and it took 5 hours! Coming out of Bkk has generally been worse, but a couple of weeks back, it was pretty good by comparison and I got back in 3.5 hour. But these roadworks have been going on a long time.

[Nereus]

Cops use drone to ease traffic gridlock on Rama II

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... on-rama-ii

A drone is being deployed to help ease heavy congestion on Rama II Road, the Highway Police Division (HPD) says.

The drone assists police on the ground in getting a bird's eye view of the traffic situation, especially during peak hours in the morning and afternoon, said Pol Maj Gen Chat Sukkaewnarong, the HPD commander. Video clips of traffic movements from the drones are transmitted on a real-time basis to the police officers' mobile phones.

They prove useful in helping police manage and direct traffic in areas with heavy build-ups of vehicles. The clips enable the police to respond to traffic situations faster and more effectively, he said.

The drone is capable of taking the clips over a seven-kilometre radius of the road, which are then downloaded on the HPD Facebook for motorists to access.

In recent days, the clips from the drone pinpointed a severe traffic bottleneck between kilometre markers 18 and 19 in the outbound direction. The congestion had been caused by at least one lane of the road being closed for resurfacing for 40 days.

Motorists were using two remaining lanes and advised to take the adjacent frontage road instead.

According to the HPD, the drone is flown over the length of the section of the Rama II Road over the Samae Dam area of Bang Khunthian district of Bangkok and the connecting area of tambon Pan Tai Norasing in Muang district of Samut Sakhon.

Highways Department chief Anon Luangboriboon said Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob will inspect the progress in tackling traffic gridlock on Rama II Road tomorrow. The inspection comes after authorities were working on traffic alleviation efforts.

Mr Anon said traffic on the road is heavy as it is a long weekend. The department has put up road signs advising motorists to opt for alternative routes.

The department is also installing variable message signs with real-time updates on the traffic situation.

A drone is being deployed to help ease heavy congestion on Rama II Road. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

phpcvofnLPM.jpg (52.81 KiB) Viewed 770 times

[centermid7]

" Well lookie lookie! We got cars stacked up as far as the eye can see. No where for them to go which means nothing for me to do so I guess I'll just sit here in the shade. "

[Nereus]

Lorries to skirt jams via ocean route

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... cean-route

RoRo ferries to help haulage to the South

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob is preparing to help lorries avoid bad traffic on Rama II Road by ushering in a fleet of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) ferries to carry them to southern provinces.

He said on Monday the solution is not only less expensive compared with land transport, but it will also help relieve congestion on an 11-kilometre section of the road which is bottlenecked due to ongoing construction work.

The minister said that road haulage firms have expressed a willingness to buy the ferries, each of which can be loaded with 180 lorries, as they incur lower costs for a trip of more than 200 kilometres.

Under the plan, the Transport Ministry will open a new ocean route linking Laem Chabang seaport in Chon Buri on the eastern coast to Bang Saphan district in the southern province of Prachuap Khiri Khan.

In the next phase, Mr Saksayam added, the route will be extended to Songkhla in the far South.

The Land Transportation Association of Thailand welcomed the move and said many of its members agreed with the purchase of the RoRo ships.

Road haulage firms will jointly spend between 4 and 5 billion baht buying a fleet of six ferries.

"The first ship is expected to arrive in the next one or two months," association chief Aphichat Phrairungrueang said.
"This will be worth the investment because water transport is 50% cheaper than travel along roads.

"The former only requires between three and four baht per km while costs paid for the latter go up to eight baht per km," added Mr Aphichat.

According to the Transport Ministry, 60,000 trucks currently use Rama II Road as a main route to the southern region. Their numbers account for 30% of the daily 200,000 vehicles that use the road, which also links Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi.

Mr Saksayam earlier admitted the road upgrade faced delays due to a lack of heavy machinery, but he promised to speed things up and expected the construction will be completed by the end of next year.

In the meantime, officials will work with traffic police to ease traffic congestion.

The minister described the current situation as "satisfactory" as the traffic jams have now been reduced to less than 400 metres in length.

[handdrummer]

Do we have an estimate as to when the first ferry will sink?

[Nereus]

Dept pledges to complete Rama II roadwork before Songkran holiday

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... an-holiday

The Department of Highways (DoH) has pledged to complete construction work on Rama II Road before the Songkran holiday to ease chronic traffic congestion.

DoH director-general Sarawut Songsivilai said the department has ordered contractors to bring in more heavy machines and speed up the roadworks.

The latest project started in 2018 and involves improving an 11-kilometre stretch of road between Bang Khunthian and Ekkachai ramp.

"On behalf of the department, I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to motorists on Rama II Road," Mr Sarawut said.

"We would like to assure people that the route [Highway Route 35] will be open for all 14 traffic lanes before Songkran day."

The move to speed up work was initiated by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob who has received several complaints about heavy traffic congestion after the department launched the road expansion and pavement improvement work on Highway Route 35 in 2018.

It was reported that traffic congestion was likely to double travel time during the major holiday, as well as lead to a rise of PM2.5 from diesel-engine trucks.

Along the route, there are 10,000 factories that contribute to air quality problems.

Each day, about 100,000 vehicles use the road, which serves as the major route to the southern region.

Heavy traffic congestion prompted residents in Samut Sakhon to lodge complaints in July with the transport minister.
The group put up placards along the road, saying the "never-ending construction" and "construction causes PM2.5".

They asked for a panel made up of residents and the state to oversee the problem and release information on any progress. The panel was formed and has promised to monitor the roadworks until they are completed.

Rama II Road, or Highway Route 35, is the major southwards transport route. It has been under continual construction over past three decades to expand traffic lanes and upgrade the surface pavement which has been damaged by the weight of passing vehicles.

The main section of the road is being widened from three to four lanes. The adjacent frontage lanes are also being upgraded.

[HHTel]

open for all 14 traffic lanes before Songkran day."

Really? Surely, that's a misprint!

Apparently not. Just read back on the thread and it includes lanes on the 'frontier' road. So 7 in all on each side. Still, this traffic has to go somewhere when it leaves route 35. I guess that will push the congestion to somewhere else.

[handdrummer]

Nearly 2 yrs. to do 11 Km.? Is it being done with picks, shovels & wheelbarrows?

[Big Boy]

It sounds about right. I've been supporting Ratchaburi Mitr Phol FC for 3 seasons now. If you don't turn right to Bangkok, but go straight on to Ratchaburi, not far past the junction, there's a set of traffic lights. The are building a flyover, and it regularly takes >30 minutes to get through. I don't know about picks, shovels & wheelbarrows at that junction, I think they're using knives and forks.

[Nereus]

Nearly 2 yrs. to do 11 Km.? Is it being done with picks, shovels & wheelbarrows?

I think that the opposite is some of the problem. They have that much equipment there it is clogging up the work space.
The other thing is the complete shambles of where they are working. A bit here, a bit there, a big space for lunch, some more work a couple of Kms along! Probably a dozen sub-contractors each with there own little bit of the pie!

[handdrummer]

Nearly 2 yrs. to do 11 Km.? Is it being done with picks, shovels & wheelbarrows?

I think that the opposite is some of the problem. They have that much equipment there it is clogging up the work space.
The other thing is the complete shambles of where they are working. A bit here, a bit there, a big space for lunch, some more work a couple of Kms along! Probably a dozen sub-contractors each with there own little bit of the pie!

Basically, everything here is a mess.