Shortcut road between Kathu and Thalang in the works

Phuket authorities are planning to construct a shortcut road between Kathu and Sri Soonthorn in Thalang. The road is being built in hopes of easing traffic congestion in Koh Kaew.

The move was announced by Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) President, Rewat Areerob, who revealed that three prominent families in the region have donated land for public use to enable the project.

According to the PPAO president, the families of Sanguan Kunwanich, Kitti Saksritawee, and Ao Ekwanich have donated land in Moo 4 Kathu, Moo 3, and Moo 7 in Sri Soonthorn to make the shortcut road a reality.

With the new land to work with, the proposed road will stretch from the Phuket Mining Museum in Kathu to the Bang Neow Dum reservoir in Baan Manik.

Once completed, the road is expected to alleviate traffic congestion during peak hours in Koh Kaew, providing drivers with an alternative route. The move is also expected to boost travel and transport links between Kathu and Sri Soonthorn, making it easier for residents and visitors to move between the two areas.

The shortcut road is also likely to boost tourism in the region, making it easier for visitors to explore the many attractions and sites on offer in Kathu and Sri Soonthorn.

The construction of the shortcut road is hoped to begin shortly, but authorities did not announce any official timeline for the project to be started and completed.

The need for more roads and alternate routes around the island of Phuket became painfully obvious when landslides closed down the Patong Hill road last year in October.

The road between Kathu and Patong was closed after it was hit by a landslide during a deluge of heavy rain in October. The road opened partially to foot traffic and then motorbikes, then one-way only, and took months to be fully repaired to allow traffic to flow normally again.