But in a bid to prevent problems, up to 30 traffic police have been added to the Tambon Rachatewa police station, which has been upgraded to support the opening of the new airport.

Lt Col Pornchai Chorawong, deputy chief of the station overseeing traffic, said he believed that roads to Suvarnabhumi would not face a congestion problem like Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, which is the only route to the airport at Don Muang. However, the police have made plans to prevent possible traffic problems, especially on the opening day - tomorrow.

Pornchai said that every traffic police officer at the station would be placed on duty tomorrow at key locations: along King Kaew Road up to the Lat Krabang; at the King Kaew intersection; at Bang Na-Trad; plus streets in the airport.

Some 12 officers have been stationed around the bus terminal at the new airport from 7am to 8pm since Suvarnabhumi's partial opening on Sept 15, in order to manage traffic in cooperation with the airport's traffic staff. The officers will be on duty around the clock once full international and domestic services begin tomorrow, and a traffic police centre will be set up inside the airport.

"After the official opening, the traffic police force should be increased since 30 officers might not be enough for the huge number of tourists coming through the airport, which is the gateway to the country," he said.

The police station is also ordering new traffic instruments such as lift trucks.

He said police were not very worried about the traffic because there are several routes for people to enter the airport. Also, the traffic system inside the airport has been well designed, with fewer intersections, many parking lots and the bus terminal.

"The airport will not cause traffic jams on the main road because it is about 8 kilometres away. Also, passengers can use elevated roadways from the airport direct to several main roads, like the motorway," he said.

Chatrarat Kaewmorakot

The Nation