Talks are continuing on a proposed new road linking Kathu and Srisoontorn, to ease the turgid congestion along Thepkassattri Road and provide a new route to Phuket International Airport. The Phuket News reports that the working group overseeing the project has agreed to begin the required surveys and inspections and to draw up maps of land boundaries.
According to a report, 3 families have confirmed their willingness to donate land to the project. The road, which will start at the Phuket Mining Museum in Kathu, and cross the hills in the centre of the island to join the east side of the Bang Neow dam in Srisoontorn, is expected to be around 5.6 kilometres long and 12 metres wide (2 lanes in each direction).
In November 2022, Nimit confirmed the plans for the new road, emphasising the need for an alternative route to help tourism and the local economy, not the least easing the appalling congestion for locals at most times of the day.
“The private sector wants to expand transportation routes by having a new road between Kathu and Srisoontorn to solve traffic problems, which in Phuket is a big problem that affects tourism due to the low number of transportation routes.”
“Land for construction of new roads is limited and expensive, while mobility and traffic safety are essential. For example, during the widespread floods in October, there were landslides and roads were cut off. People were unable to travel to other areas, resulting in significant damage to the provincial economy.”
SOURCE: The Phuket News
