Grid-lock and loaded: Phuket officials vow fix for ‘Kaew’ chaos
Fed-up locals demand end to daily traffic nightmare near key junction
Phuket officials have finally drawn up a game plan to tackle the chronic congestion plaguing the Koh Kaew Intersection, a notorious choke point that’s long tested the patience of school-run parents and frazzled commuters.
The bold new measures were hammered out at a meeting yesterday, July 14 at Phuket City Police Station, chaired by Police Colonel Chatree Chueakaew, chief of Phuket City Police, alongside traffic boss Pol. Lt. Col. Pawina Chumrit.
The gathering brought together everyone from MPs to village headmen and reps from the Koh Kaew OrBorTor, all united by one goal, unclog the chaos.
Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee also threw his weight behind the initiative, which follows a recent trial effort to repaint no-parking zones in red and white and tweak lane markings to improve flow. The early signs, say officials, are promising.
“We’ve seen clear improvement during the test run, especially in terms of lane discipline and reduced bottlenecks.”
Among the key changes: a controlled U-turn system will be enforced during rush hour, between 7am to 9am and again from 4pm to 6pm, with police stationed at the intersection to keep traffic moving and help pedestrians cross safely, Phuket News reported.
To boost safety, the Highways Department has also been asked to fast-track zebra crossings and install speed bumps near schools and busy crossing points.
The Koh Kaew Intersection, just north of Phuket Town, has long been a commuter’s headache. The junction links major roads with schools, residential estates and commercial zones, and regularly turns into gridlock hell during school drop-offs and evening rush.
Previous attempts to sort the snarl-ups stalled thanks to tangled jurisdictions and half-hearted planning. But this time, officials claim, the strategy is both united and long-term.
Whether it’s a real fix or just more political hot air remains to be seen, but for now, fed-up locals are cautiously hopeful their daily traffic torment may finally be coming to an end.
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