Published on June 24, 2005

Bangkok commuters will face a travel nightmare when construction of three flyovers across the Lat Phrao intersection starts on Sunday.

Governor Apirak Kosayodhin and a team of city officials yesterday handed out leaflets advising people to avoid routes around the intersection as some lanes will be closed.

The leaflets also identified alternative routes.

The junction is ranked one of the city’s five worst intersections for traffic jams.

Lanes on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road will be closed from Sunday to facilitate construction of the first bridge.

There will only be two lanes open in front of Chit Pochana restaurant and another two in front of Saint John’s University.

Detours for the closed lanes had already been prepared, Apirak said.

The foot of the bridge starts at Chit Pochana restaurant and crosses the intersection to join Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road outbound (in front of Chatuchak Park).

The bridge is intended to relieve traffic congestion on the way to Rangsit and authorities expect the construction work to be completed by November.

Apirak said traffic hold-ups in front of Chit Pochana had always been severe and expected them to worsen during the construction.

Traffic lanes at four other locations around the junction will be closed one at a time.

Traffic Police chief Maj-General Panu Kerdlarpphol said he was concerned about the closure of traffic lanes in front of Chit Pochana, where four out of six lanes will be closed.

“The left two lanes and a detour lane might not be sufficient to cope with the amount of traffic during rush-hour periods,” he said.

Panu said he would increase the number of traffic police at the Lat Phrao intersection and three forklift trucks would be on hand to remove vehicles that break down.

Jeerawan Prasomsap,

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation

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