forcebwithu

From How Can a ‘Power Surge’ Bring an Airline to a Standstill? "Alex Cruz, British Airways' chief executive, said the surge was so strong that it knocked out the airlines' systems across 170 airports in 70 countries." Perhaps he was quoted out of context in the article, but if he wasn't the quote that comes to mind is "better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt".

Good chance too that drain being on the low end of the Poom means it becomes a fountain of foul water coming out, rather going into the drain.

My first pic is from 11 Jan, 2015, so not three years... yet. Here's a link to the history of the project in pics.

I've been thinking the same thing, poor planning if they keep that u-turn open after the underpass is opened. As it is now, as soon as south bound traffic passes the concrete barrier that separates top side and underpass traffic, they make a bee line to the far right lane, solid white lane marking lines be damned. That's going to be a recipe for disaster once the underpass opens. Top side traffic trying to cross lanes for the u-turn will be at odds with traffic coming out of the underpass at speed.

Latest news report... Pattaya underpass expected to be ready end of May Officials connected to the building of the 1.9km Cantral Pattaya underpass are confident everything will be ready by the end of May 2017. Contractors and representatives from the Department of Rural Roads were holding a meeting at the Grand Soleil Hotel in Pattaya yesterday, reported STV Pattaya. They announced that the project – at a cost of 800 million baht – will be delivered as per the contract though it is several months behind schedule. February was originally mooted for the opening after construction started back in 2014. All of the major infrastructure of the tunnel is complete and there are just a few matters of surfacing, signage and lighting to finish, said Rachan Janthorn of the department of Rural Roads. No opening date was given in the Sophon Cable TV story on Facebook but it was stated that the building of a bridge for handicapped people would not delay the opening of the tunnel as had been previously feared. Both locals and holidaymakers alike will be happy to finally see the tunnel open, after the problems it has caused for traffic moving both ways. I wouldn’t hold your breath though, the key word coming out of the meeting was ‘expected”, which sounds more hopeful than certain to me. Fingers crossed.

With the pool table out of the selection criteria, The Haven on Soi Lengkee would meet the remaining criteria.

Northbound entrance sign under wraps, waiting for the unveiling on 28 Feb, 1 May, 22 May??? A few pics from the pedestrian bridge, which leaves me wondering; they were smart enough to build the new pedestrian bridge during the construction of the underpass. How does it happen they just now discovered there was another, handicap accessible bridge that needs to be built before they can open the underpass? Work continues on the dolphins' mosaic playground. I think from ground level this central island art piece will look pretty good, especially lit up at night View to the south Work continues, slowly, on resurfacing of the final northbound lane. Landscaping of the Klang instersection is also continuing at a glacial pace. Unfortunately the force wasn't with me as the shields to the underpass were up. So no pics from the down under today. However on the northside entrance I thought I might have caught a break seeing a worker who looked like he was about to unlock the gate. Turns out the shield to the underpass is an optical illusion, with an opening just big enough for a single person to squeeze through.

Thanks to the posters that recommended Billions. What a great series. Very well written and great acting. Got me hooked.

You can also go to YouTube and do a search on the video ID which is part of the URL. For the video posted the ID is tStMlfgVu8Y

Got my wallet nicked at Songkran a couple years ago. Happened while making my way through the overhead mister they set up on Beach Rd. Prime hunting ground for thiefs due to the crowds looking for relief from the heat. Learned my lesson and am now much more careful whenever I'm in a crowded situation.

Read a couple of news reports of electrocution deaths around Thailand from foam parties. Something I wouldn't normally think about as dangerous, but upon further reflection mixing water, soap and an electric blower to create the foam does make for a deadly combination.

Well done sir. Good example to others on what can be seen and done around Pattaya besides the usual.

Another good example where an airline would place profits over passenger comfort, and common sense. As you pointed out, rule change occurred in 2009. Wonder if DOT will come out with new rules regarding involuntary bumping as a result of this latest incident. New DOT Consumer Rule Limits Airline Tarmac Delays, Provides Other Passenger Protections World's longest (and strangest) flight delays In 1999, Northwest Airlines (which merged with Delta in 2008), left travellers stranded in a snowstorm at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and was later ordered to pay out $7.1 million in compensation. Despite a 12-inch dump of snow over the New Year weekend, the airline decided to keep running flights while other operators cancelled services. Thousands of passengers were left on the tarmac for up to 10 hours, reportedly without food, water or working toilets on some aircraft. According to the Chicago Tribune, Northwest's handling of the snowstorm was a significant factor in Congress deciding to make airlines abide by a "passenger bill of rights", which was introduced in 2009.

A lot colder than I'm used to, but all dry here in middle America.

And here I thought a sandwich was made with two women.

No, stinking pigs are handled under the "disruptive" clause in the contract of carriage. 'Emotional support' pig kicked off flight for being disruptive Passenger Robert Phelps took a picture after this passenger was asked to leave a US Airways flight with her "disruptive" pig.

If airlines and hotels only sold non-refundable seats and rooms, the analogy with tickets to a game would hold true. But airlines sell tickets that are fully refundable and hotels sell rooms that don't require a deposit, so there's a chance some seats or rooms may go unused which represents lost revenue. So for those industries it makes economic sense to overbook to maximize profits.

Seven days to opening day, if the press reports are to be believed. Northbound lane markings are done Grass is laid. Klang intersection is getting its final coat of tarmac Looking south Finishing up the landscaping at the Klang intersection Looking north. Tents for the opening party? High security at the underpass entrance Wiring almost done Southend wall decorations still WIP Thai version of storm water drains. Good thing we never get any heavy rains here.

No surprise it's delayed, but quite a few bullshit excuses spouted by the on-site foreman quoted in the article. IMHO it's piss poor project management that's caused the delay. The lack of planning was evident at the very beginning of the project with no real coherent plan to deal with the traffic chaos the construction would cause. Two months into the project they finally got around with a half-assed, poorly thought out traffic diversion around the construction site which only made the traffic problem worse. Like no left turn on to Khao Noi And an attempt to make Soi Nern Plub Whan one way from Suk to the railroad line As for drainage, the requirements for the underpass are minimal as it's really just a big, covered trench cut through the top of the rise at the Klang intersection. The entrances are designed with slight elevation increase before entry into the underpass. This will serve to keep storm water from flowing into the underpass.

Experiences like this make me appreciate the speed and efficiency of the Pattaya immigration office all the more. Feel for you Gary, glad I don't have to deal with those sorts here.

Did a photo recon this afternoon of the construction progress. Looks to me like it'll be another month or two until they have this project done. Here's some topside pics. Looking north. Pretty chaotic with traffic criss crossing in front of the gas station to get on the left most lane or the lane feeding into the Hwy 7 entrance. Looking south. Shouldn't be long before the Klang intersection is open again. Bit of decoration to admire while you're stuck in traffic at the Klang intersection. For those heading north, this is why traffic is so backed up. Working on the masonary for the central island. Expect it'll look pretty nice once it's landscaped and the lights lit. Welcome sign to the southbound underpass entrance. Friendly security guy. Asked him how long before the work is finished. He laughed and said maybe one year. Still a lot of wiring to hook up. Northbound entrance work.

A few topside shots. Looking north Looking south Klang intersection Free car/bike wash today A photo history of the Sukhumvit underpass construction can be found at this link.

Looked like a quiet day on the construction site, so using my trusty mtn bike did a photo recon below ground. Starting from the southbound entrance Asking his buddies which blue rock to use next... Not much progress on the wiring since my last recon a few weeks ago. Out in the sun again, looking north Southbound exit ready for a coat of asphalt Paving of the northbound entrance almost done

Think if they see a car roll up with passengers in the back and only the driver in the front the assumption is taxi. A few years ago they tried the same thing on at BKK. Driver just asked that I sit in the front seat to give the illusion of a friend driving me to the airport.

Photo recon of the underpass from this afternoon. Lights are up that will tell you if the underpass lane is open, or not. Trying to puzzle this one out. The underpass design doesn't allow for routing all traffic from a particular direction into both sides of the underpass. Guess they could use the signs to warn motorists when the underpass is flooded, but I doubt a lighted sign is going to be much good for stopping traffic from trying. Maybe movable barriers are yet to come. Southbound entrance with decorative panels installed. Touch up on a plaque. Guess it's good you'll have something to look at when stalled in traffic. Note the "Department Of Rural Roads". Didn't know Pattaya was still considered rural. Sundays are a good recon day. Not much work going on, so no VIP's around to stop me from shooting some photos in the underpass. Closeup of the decorative panels in the underpass. Bit of wiring to finish. Photos of the topside for the scrapbook. Looking north. And south. Working on the Klang intersection.