Optimistic (to say the least) officials in Phuket says repair work to a section of Patong Hill that collapsed during torrential rain will take just 7 days – once the rain stops. According to a Phuket Express report, the Phuket Highways Department says work can begin once the wet weather ends and a temporary repair job should be “complete in 7 days”.
As to when the “wet weather ends”, and proper inspections can be made to the collapsed road area, no one knows.
The Patong Hill road, the main access road into Patong from Kathu, collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, during more torrential rain, leaving access across the hill from Kathu completely blocked off, in both directions. After drivers kept pushing on through the single lane remaining after the collapse, officials finally closed the road off to all traffic at 5.30pm on Wednesday afternoon.
Yutthana Pitak, Phuket Highways Director, says he expects repair work to begin as soon as the current wet weather ends.
“The landslide on Patong Hill is about 500 metres from the curve near a shooting range around the Patong City billboard. The road is being blocked, extending from the Si Kor Intersection in Kathu to the Suwan Khiri Wong temple in Patong. The road repair work can be started after the rain stops.”
“The temporary road repair will take about 7 days.”
As a major route to Phuket’s most popular tourist town, the repairs are considered urgent with the high season looking and hope for more visitors over the traditional Christmas and new year holiday period.
Other sections of the Patong Hill road have collapsed and faced numerous repairs over the years, sometime collapsing again after the initial repairs. A Patong Hill tunnel has been discussed and debated for two decades but its construction has not even begun
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
