Residents take battle against Chiang Mai intersection upgrade to provincial boss

[rooster59]

Residents take battle against Chiang Mai intersection upgrade to provincial boss

By Kriangkrai Rattana

The Nation

 

Members of an activist group present their letter of complaint to a senior official at Chiang Mai Government Complex.

 

An activist group has taken its campaign against the upgrading of a busy intersection in Chiang Mai to the provincial governor.

 

A City Hall source said the Chiang Mai Highway District Office 2, which has been tasked with overseeing the project, and Chiang Mai governor Supachai Iamsuwan would hold a press conference to address the residents’ concerns at the Chiang Mai Government Complex on July 9. 

 

The proposed works will see the Rinkham Intersection upgraded and resurfaced as part of plans to incorporate a lane extension. 

 

The Alliance of Hao Hak Chiang Mai (We love Chiang Mai) group has warned that if the authorities proceeded with the project, without first consulting residents, it would file a lawsuit with the Administrative Court.

 

The group's leader, Bannarot Buakhli, submitted the objection letter to Supachai via senior official Chucheep Pongchai at the Dhamrongtham Centre within the Chiang Mai Government Complex. 

 

The letter also urged the provincial authority to check whether the project had followed legal procedures and was in line with the province's traffic and transport development master plan. 

 

The group also wants the authority to check if the Chiang Mai Highway District Office 2 had violated the Royal Decree on Criteria and Procedures for Good Governance, B.E. 2546 (2003) and the Royal Decree on Criteria and Procedures for Good Governance (second edition) B.E. 2562 (2019). The two decrees require state agencies to analyse the pros and cons of a project and ensure its transparency in terms of the effect on people. They also require consultations with residents.

 

The group also asked that details be revealed on the construction plan and the materials proposed for use.

 

The group cited an engineering expert at Chiang Mai University as saying the expansion wouldn't help alleviate traffic jams; instead, it would create confusion among motorists. 

 

Calling for the project to be suspended until its requests had been met, the group is seeking the establishment of a joint committee that includes representatives from the private sector and business owners in the adjacent Nimmanhemin Road, as well as academics, to study the impact of the project on the area's economy and community.

 

Rinkham Intersection is a key site for this northern province's economy and tourism and is the meeting point of Huai Kaew and Nimmanhemin roads and the Chiang Mai-Lampang Super Highway. 

 

It is notorious for traffic jams and has described by locals as the city intersection with the longest wait for a green light.

 

The Highway Department, wishing to improve the intersection for better traffic flows, had asked Maya Shopping Mall to demolish its fountain-adorned plaza near the intersection and return that space by July 20 to make way for the works. It said the upgraded intersection would allow vehicles on Huai Kaew Road to make faster turns. The plan received mixed reactions among residents.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/30372396

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand  2019-07-06

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[worgeordie]

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

it would create confusion among motorists.

Yes,that's very easy to do, and should be stopped  ???? what are they installing

a roundabout !

regards worgeordie

[fantom]

40 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Yes,that's very easy to do, and should be stopped  ???? what are they installing

a roundabout !

regards worgeordie

Actually that is a damn good idea to install a roundabout.  Much better than adding an extra lane.

Would also organise all those attempting u turns and other manoeuvres.

 

[csmith]

[sammieuk1]

The group cited an engineering expert at Chiang Mai University as saying the expansion wouldn't help alleviate traffic jams; instead, it would create confusion among motorists. 

 

I would say creating confusion at this dire junction is an improvement ???? 

[Thailand]

30 minutes ago, fantom said:

Actually that is a damn good idea to install a roundabout.  Much better than adding an extra lane.

Would also organise all those attempting u turns and other manoeuvres.

 

It's quite amusing to see Thai motorists confronted with a roundabout.

[connda]

Have a major Thai highway simply end right in the middle of a highly congested part of a city - what on earth could have gone wrong with that plan.   When 'ring roads' are C-clip roads.  ????

[mania]

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

It is notorious for traffic jams and has described by locals as the city intersection with the longest wait for a green light.

True but it is not the only one...Even the one by Promenade can be insanely long but................TIT

 

A BIG part of why these lights are so pooched is drivers lack of lawful driving.

After light turns red many times the traffic is just running the red light until the other side forces their way in.

Now they have almost no time on their turn & proceed to do the exact same thing...run the red ????

 

 

[KIWILEE]

I must admit to a bit of laughter at the moment trying to imagine the confusion a roundabout would introduce. Thai drivers seem to have no concept of giving way to your right.

[grumpy 4680]

Planners should of considered this junction years ago before abruptly ending the super highway. To connect up other outer ring road (by the canal) is now going to be a major headache for someone to sort out now, roundabouts in Thailand are generally a non event, because Thais cannot use them properly, and would probably end in bigger jam's, all I can visualize is trying to put some of the roads over the top with flyovers in that area, or more of some the buildings would have to go.

[just bob]

The existing left turn lane from Huei Kaew to the highway that was expanded last year is NEVER crowded and underused except by scooters filtering up to the light.  Widening it is pointless and will just make it harder for pedestrians to cross.  This is such a stupid idea.  Keep the fountain.  Its the only nice thing there.