Traffic nightmare averted
Traffic was congested on the route taken by anti-Thaksin protesters early yesterday, but was not quite as bad as feared, the traffic police chief said.
This was thanks to good cooperation between traffic police and the protesters, and information given to drivers to avoid the route. Some companies on the route closed for the day, Maj-General Panu Kerdlarpphol said. The anti-Thaksin rally moved from Sanam Luang along Rajdamnoen Road from about 6am and stopped outside Government House about 9am. Thousands of protesters have vowed to camp outside the premier's office until Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra resigns. Police closed some parts of Rajdamnoen Nok and Phitsanulok Road to traffic. All public buses normally passing the route were diverted to nearby roads to prevent traffic gridlock. However, the march caused some a bad traffic jam on the Rajdamnoen and adjacent roads in the morning rush hours and worse congestion in the evening. Traffic police closed traffic on Rajdamnoen Nok between Makkawaan and Suan Misakawan intersections and on Phitsanulok Road between the Makkawaan and Panitchayakarn intersections. Panu said drivers were asked to avoid Rajdamnoen, Phitsanulok and roads passing Government House, and use Larn Luang road. Drivers wanting to travel to Thon Buri were asked to avoid the Pin Klao Bridge and use the Rama 8 Bridge instead. Many commuters, both those who went to join the rally and general commuters, yesterday opted for boat transportation to avoid traffic jams. Many companies on the route to Government House halted operations yesterday to allow employees to join the rally and prevent a traffic bottleneck. Public buses running along Rajdamnoen Road, such as the 503 and 201, were diverted to nearby roads until the rally was over. Buses on route 23, which runs from Thewes to U-rupong, Rajathevee, Pratunam, New Phetchaburi and Samut Prakan, stopped yesterday due to the severe congestion. Traffic chief Panu said 300 officers would be deployed on roads in the area around the clock. The police would do three-hour shifts until the rally ends, he said. Meanwhile, more than 200 farm trucks or E-tans from the North and Northeast have been moving along Highway 1 and are expected to reach Bangkok on Friday. They have been asked to park in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi and to get other transport into the capital. The police feared the E-tans, which stretched for about 2km along the road, would worsen city traffic.
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