Three Years of Chaos, (if we are lucky)

[jacko]

I drove through it all yesterday and it was worse than previously. The reason appears to be work going on outside of the main tunnel construction close to the pavements in both directions. I think this was modifications or installations of electrical cables, so the traffic was being choked further. It is a bit dodgy on a bike, sure you can wend your way through but beware at weekends when Bangkok drivers are in the mix. They seem to be more aggressive and don't like to give way. Another thing to beware of would be people making their way home early or late evening, there is a chance they have been drinking, likely heavily, and patience becoming thin. I had 2 incidents (elsewhere not by the tunnel) over the weekend where I came across someone driving drunk as a skunk, no lights, on and off the road, and another where I believe a group of a few lads who had been at Bira or somewhere up Hwy 36 were coming home in their Nissan with a spoiler and noisy exhaust, looking for a bit of trouble and racing. Driving here is getting dodgier, and you are on your own out there.

[forcebwithu]

Progress on the underpass roof.

 

And the view to the south.

[jacko]

Thanks for the update. Quite infuriating that stopping is still happening on Sukhumvit exacerbating the traffic choking. I saw one pickup had just stopped at the side, put on his hazard lights, and got out talking to workers at the pavement area in the midst of the construction. The traffic behind was nigh stationary as everyone struggled to get into one lane. The guy presumably could not give a shit he was holding up many hundreds of people. Minibuses still pick-up and drop off. Yet the police were further down stopping traffic, so the odd car could get out of Index! An area to be avoided in rush hour when in a car or truck!

 

We are about 9 months in, anyone interested in a sweepstakes on the official tunnel opening date?

Edited October 15, 2015 by jacko

[forcebwithu]

Poster on another board had links to these articles on the construction here, and in Phuket.

Sukhumvit-Central tunnel 15% complete

Sidewalks repaired in Sukhumvit construction zone

Phuket underpass tunnelling delayed by rains

Steer clear: Locals plan on-site protest of underpass delays

 

 

Work progressing slowly here. Pics from yesterday afternoon.

 

[jacko]

That does look chaotic.......

We shall see traffic issues as we head into the high season and nicer weather.

[MM]

15% complete?

 

When did they announce the 3 year completion date, i.e., when did the clock start on this 3 years?

 

It's been a year or so, and at 15% complete, it looks like at least 5 more years of this.

[DP Gumbypgh]

Yes i thought it was three years for all three planned underpasses. That means nine years of chaos or if martin is right then 18 years of chaos. Fucking glad i don't live on the darkside.

[jacko]

Yes i thought it was three years for all three planned underpasses. That means nine years of chaos or if martin is right then 18 years of chaos. Fucking glad i don't live on the darkside.

I am pretty sure it was 3 years for this one underpass, and then I expect more of the same elsewhere.

Thread started at the beginning of February 2015, and at that time construction was 'well under-way'.

I think we are well on schedule for a late finish!

[forcebwithu]

A few snaps of the construction progress from earlier today.

 

Wonder what height restriction they'll have on the underpass. The trusses seem a bit low for anything higher than an SUV.

 

 

Backhoe looks like he got stuck backing out of the way of the hole digger

 

No worries though. Did a self rescue with a push of the bucket

 

Can see in the background they're almost ready to concrete in another roof section.

 

[jacko]

Seems to be moving along well!

Quite sure the underpass will need to be able to handle trucks and coaches..... but you have given me an idea for a future sweepstake. How long after opening will a vehicle over the height restriction take to hit the tunnel roof?

[forcebwithu]

Update from this afternoon.

 

A poster on another forum had snapped some of the same views from three days earlier. I noticed something in one those pictures I'd not seen before, and that was a gap in the south fencing. So today I kicked my mtn bike into high gear and peddled down Suk, executed a sidling u-turn in the dust and gravel, and sure enough the way in to the south side of the construction site was wide open. Peddled up unchallenged to the new road surface and snapped off a few exclusive first shots of the exit of the underpass.

 

As you can see in these shots the view from the north is deceptive in that the overhead trusses are actually quite high in relation to the road surface.

 

Cute kids, but the middle one was definitely scared of the stranger in their midst.

[forcebwithu]

Pictorial update from yesterday afternoon. Not much to see that's different from the last update.

 

 

Looks like we'll soon have a new vantage point to shoot pics from.

 

[forcebwithu]

New overhead walkway is now 2/3 complete.

 

 

And a couple of shots of the work going on at the south end

[forcebwithu]

For those interested in seeing construction progress from start to finish (???), here's a link to a photo album with pics that start just shy of one year ago, 11 Jan, 2015.

[forcebwithu]

Pics of the new, temp bridge and views from the new vantage point.

 

 

If you're vertically blessed, or carrying an umbrella, better remember to duck as you exit the temp bridge on the east side.

 

They've started work on demolishing the old bridge.

 

The new bridge is taking shape.

 

New vantage point is now closer to the action.

 

Measure twice...

 

Bend once.

[jacko]

I am a little confused by that new pedestrian crossing.

There appear to be steps to get up and down right in the middle, ie on the top of the tunnel, An area I thought would be for traffic turning right in and out of the junctions like Klang and Soi Siam CC/Nerm Plab Wan. Has anyone seen a plan of the proposed end result yet? Perhaps they could put a roundabout there, we know how well those work in Pattaya.

[Chang_paarp]

Temporary access for the workers?

 

Those stairs are not yet concrete, we know how much the Thai construction industry loves concrete.

[jacko]

Temporary access for the workers?

 

Those stairs are not yet concrete, we know how much the Thai construction industry loves concrete.

Yes you could be right. I rode past yesterday and closer up the fixture looks more temporary.

[forcebwithu]

Yes you could be right. I rode past yesterday and closer up the fixture looks more temporary.

 

The white bridge is temporary. The permanent bridge is the one under construction in the pic below. Construction on the support posts on either side of Suk has also begun, one of which you can see in this pic.

 

[forcebwithu]

The old walkover bridge is now history.

 

While work on the new bridge appears to have stalled.

 

The support columns have looked like this for the past couple of weeks.

 

I'm guessing on this, but at the Klang intersection it looks like an overhead track has been constructed for lifting and assembly of the heavy underpass components.

 

Pouring concrete for another section of the underpass roof.

Edited January 24, 2016 by forcebwithu

[forcebwithu]

Looks like they've started digging out the north end underpass.

 

Can't make it out in this pic, but there's a backhoe working under the concrete roof.

 

Slow going on the construction of the new overhead walkway.

 

They've started the pour on the walkway support posts either side of Suk.

 

View to the south...

 

I realize the electric lines are insulated and tied off to non-conductive ceramic posts, but TIT and I don't think I'll chance walking on the metal temporary walkway when it's raining.

[forcebwithu]

Construction update. Digging out the underpass continues.

 

Not much going on to the north.

 

A couple of workers enjoying the down time.

 

The new walkway is getting closer to done.

 

No need to hurry on the walkway as the support posts either side of Suk still need to be completed.

 

[jacko]

Were those pics taken before or after the heavy rainstorm we had Tuesday?

Just wondering as I believe it was enough to cause flooding on Sukhumvit near Tai.

[Gary]

It looks like I better get used to the small road, 1096 south of Pattaya. That takes me to Sukhumvit highway south of Chaiyapruk. It's out of the way but it avoids the worst part of the long drive from Loei. From highway 7 to Chaiyapruk is the worst part of a 650 kilometer drive. Does anyone think traffic will be better even after the tunnel is finished? I'm not convinced that the tunnel will not flood after a rain.

[forcebwithu]

Were those pics taken before or after the heavy rainstorm we had Tuesday?

Just wondering as I believe it was enough to cause flooding on Sukhumvit near Tai.

 

Taken on the 18th, two days after the rain.