Pattaya’s Soi Buakhao set to become one-way street in major traffic overhaul

The streets of Pattaya are on the brink of a significant transformation. Officials announced that Soi Buakhao, a bustling road in the city, will soon be converted into a one-way street.

To alleviate the regular high congestion and traffic density in the area, the traffic system change is set to take place within the next two weeks. The plan follows the resolution of the local Pattaya administration committee‘s meeting and will start after the placement of public notices detailing the upcoming changes.

The new traffic system isn’t limited to Soi Buakhao alone. Other stretches including Soi Pattaya Sai 2 Road entering Soi Buakhao, Soi Chaloem Phra Kiat (Sai 3) entering Soi Buakhao, and parts of Jomtien Beach Road are also slated to function as one-way streets soon. The move is geared towards enhancing mobility and improving the overall traffic flow in these areas.

Before the conversion is implemented, city officials will be seeking the public’s thoughts. By gauging the community’s response, they hope to ensure a smooth transition and mitigate any potential inconvenience. The traffic system change on Soi Buakhao was briefly tested during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2021 and the data from that period will be used to facilitate this permanent implementation.

Soi Buakhao, particularly around the well-frequented Tree Town nightlife area, has seen an influx of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The dense traffic has been attributed to several accidents, some of which have been fatal. The one-way system is hoped to reduce these accidents and help maintain a steady traffic flow, reported Pattaya News.

The reaction to the proposed change has been largely positive on social media. However, netizens have highlighted potential hurdles that could still impede smooth traffic flow. These include baht buses stopping illegally for passengers, motorbike taxi vendors using large portions of public streets for their stands, and illegal food vendors setting up shop wherever they please.

These issues, netizens argue, will need to be addressed to ensure smooth traffic flow, even with the introduction of the one-way system.

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