Itthiphol announced on 3 April that years of debate and studies are finally over, with the Department of Rural Roads releasing the first funds for the construction that will create three years of construction havoc on the main route into Pattaya, a beach resort popular with tourists and expatriates and located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 100km southeast of Bangkok in the province of Chonburi.
The Central Sukhumvit junction bypass – which calls for four subterranean lanes to be built under the busy intersection to separate through and downtown Pattaya-bound traffic – features a roofed roadway, 1,900m long, running from Pornprapanimit Road, under Sukhumvit and ending on Central Road.
Only 420m of the roadway would be covered. The 20m-wide roadway will have air ventilators, drainage, security cameras and a fire extinguisher system. There will also be a U-turn constructed on top of the tunnel with an island adorned with dolphin sculptures.
Additional bypasses are planned under Sukhumvit Road intersections with North, Central, South and Thepprasit roads. Planning has already begun on all sections, with each measuring 1 to 2km. Construction on the Thepprasit tunnel also will begin during the three-year period, the mayor said.
Itthiphol said the budget to hire a contractor has been approved and the city is now taking bids. A final decision is expected by May. Once a contractor is hired, he said, a meeting will be held with relevant agencies on the construction plans.
