Phuket goes both ways with first underpass

PHUKET: The underpass near Central Festival Phuket is now open to two-way traffic, as officials scramble to complete the intersection.

“We opened the underpass to northbound and southbound traffic on Wednesday,” explained Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office. “Meanwhile we will continue to work on the surface streets above it.”

The 600-million-baht underpass was originally slated for completion in October. However, the deadline for full completion has been pushed forward into the new year (story here).

The two-way-traffic development at Phuket’s first underpass comes as Phuket City Police announced earlier this week that the lanes of traffic flowing between Kathu and Samkong at the Samkong Intersection, the site of the Tesco underpass, will be closed from tomorrow at 10pm until March 1.

During that time, motorists approaching the intersection from the east or the west will be forced to make a left turn, and then proceed to the nearest u-turn to continue in the intended direction (story here).

— Chutharat Plerin