Heavy traffic in Phuket forces travellers to allocate extra time
Phuket International Airport is once again reminding those scheduled to fly out of the island to factor in additional travel time to reach the airport. This advice, which was initially issued for the new year period, has been reiterated due to persistent heavy traffic on the island’s main roads.
This renewed call for travellers to allocate an extra two to three hours for their journey to the airport was delivered through a local public relations channel yesterday. The necessity for this extra buffer time has arisen as visitors begin to leave the island, heading home as work resumes following the holiday season.
The main road in Phuket, known as Thepkrasattri Road or Route 401, has been particularly affected by this surge in traffic. The road is a critical link for the island, connecting the northern bridges to Phuket Town and the popular tourist areas in the southern half of the island. It also serves as the primary route for all traffic travelling to and from the airport.
Congestion on Thepkrasattri Road has been especially severe northbound, starting from Thalang and intensifying after the airport turnoff. Motorists are being asked to exercise patience and prioritise safety while navigating these busy routes.
As people across the nation return to work following the holiday season, traffic in Phuket is expected to fluctuate. However, the usual delays associated with the peak tourism season are anticipated to become the norm once more, reported Phuket News.
Phuket’s traffic woes might soon see a respite, with Rewat Areerob, the President of Phuket’s Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), urging Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to implement measures to ease the city’s road congestion. Additionally, Rewat is advocating for the introduction of electric buses in Phuket Town, under the PPAO’s jurisdiction.
Rewat yesterday played host to travelling experts and policy planning analysts from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). The meeting aimed to solicit opinions and suggestions for a preliminary feasibility study and preliminary concept design for a tourism route along the Andaman coast, from Ranong to Satun Province, as part of the Andaman Riviera Project. To read more click HERE.
