FROM BANGKOK POST:
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday confirmed the trans-gulf Laem Phak Bia seabridge project will be scrapped after His Majesty the King expressed concern about it.
Mr Thaksin said the King asked the government to thoroughly consider the project and decide if it would be a worthy investment.
The prime minister admitted environmental concerns and the soaring construction costs of the 47km elevated road played a part in the decision.
Terdsak Sedthamanop, head of the Highways Department, said the environmental study had found toxic substances including mercury and lead under the sea. Seabridge construction could cause those substances to leak into the gulf and harm fish and other marine resources.
The cost of the project had almost doubled from the original estimate of 32 billion baht, Mr Terdsak said.
The prime minister admitted the government would end up paying far more than it had previously thought.
The 47km road, proposed by the Traffic and Transportation Policy and Planning Office, was to be a short cut to Prachuap Khiri Khan cutting the trip by 38km.
The bridge would start at Samut Sakhon, cut across the Gulf of Thailand to rejoin Phetkasem highway in Phetchaburi's Ban Laem district, near the popular seaside resorts of Cha-am and Hua Hin.
Mr Thaksin said the focus now swings back to the busy Phetkasem highway, which will be upgraded to improve safety.
Traffic volume on Phetkasem, the only highway to the South, is expected to continue to increase.
He conceded that an alternative motorway from Bang Yai district in Nonthaburi to Cha-am through Nakhon Pathom's Bang Pong district was being considered.
The seabridge project has met with strong opposition from environmentalists and traders in Samut Songkhram, the central province to be bypassed.
Meawhile, senators pressed for the government to take responsibility for money lost in studying the project.
``The scheme should never have materialised in the first place, but Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, being his usual stubborn self, did not listen to anybody's advice,'' said Senator Chirmsak Pinthong, former chief of the committee on public participation which probed the initial stages of the project. Mr Chirmsak said 420 million baht in taxpayers' money was invested in hiring Chulalongkorn University's faculty of engineers to design the bridge even though the public hearing process was incomplete.
Kaewsun Atibodhi, chief of the senate environment panel, said it was bad judgment by Mr Thaksin.
``Apart from the 420 million baht, a lot of money was also invested in conducting numerous public hearings as well as the EIA evaluation itself, money all down the drain,'' he said.
Thaksin scraps gulf seabridge project on King's advice
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shakin' boxcar joe
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Thaksin scraps gulf seabridge project on King's advice
Cancelling that daft project is probably the only sensible decision this government has ever made.
That road was always going to be an expensive mistake.
Far better to upgrade the present highway , as they seem to be doing already.
There is already a six lane by-pass from petchburi to beyond hua hin , its little used and the surface has degraded after not many years of use , why invest billions in an expensive high maintenance project that serves little purpose other than to upset the environmental brigade when for merely millions the present system can be widened and improved.
upgrading the present roads would seem the sensible option.
A far better way of bringing people down south would be to increase the number and speed of the trains , and whilst we are at it , upgrading the public transport system along petchkasem in the hua hin and takiap area wouldnt go amiss either.
That road was always going to be an expensive mistake.
Far better to upgrade the present highway , as they seem to be doing already.
There is already a six lane by-pass from petchburi to beyond hua hin , its little used and the surface has degraded after not many years of use , why invest billions in an expensive high maintenance project that serves little purpose other than to upset the environmental brigade when for merely millions the present system can be widened and improved.
upgrading the present roads would seem the sensible option.
A far better way of bringing people down south would be to increase the number and speed of the trains , and whilst we are at it , upgrading the public transport system along petchkasem in the hua hin and takiap area wouldnt go amiss either.
shakin' boxcar joe.
Shakin'
Interesting comments. I'm definitely not a expert on transportation issues. However:
The existing bypass should certainly be repaired. I'm not so sure about about widening it, though. I can remember about 8 years ago looking at the BKK Post on the internet and seeing the furore from environmentalists when it was first done. "All the ancient trees etc that were flattened to make way for 'progress'".
And for what? It has just got busier and more decrepid.
Definitely, an upgrade of the railway would be welcome to accommodate all the heavy traffic in freight.
I mean, just look at the road trip from BKK to HH. It's a visual nightmare.
Until Thailand starts thinking ahead about its own country and people, there is no hope for the country IMHO. At least transport wise
Interesting comments. I'm definitely not a expert on transportation issues. However:
The existing bypass should certainly be repaired. I'm not so sure about about widening it, though. I can remember about 8 years ago looking at the BKK Post on the internet and seeing the furore from environmentalists when it was first done. "All the ancient trees etc that were flattened to make way for 'progress'".
And for what? It has just got busier and more decrepid.
Definitely, an upgrade of the railway would be welcome to accommodate all the heavy traffic in freight.
I mean, just look at the road trip from BKK to HH. It's a visual nightmare.
Until Thailand starts thinking ahead about its own country and people, there is no hope for the country IMHO. At least transport wise
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Guess
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Yes,
All interesting stuff. I seem to remember reading in th BKK Post last year that the government had already approved the doubling up of the railway tracks as far as Surat Thani. That was before the national election though.
As for safety, I think we all know what should be done first to tackle that problem.
I have made the journey from Nakon Si Tammarat to Bangkok more times than I care to remember. Apart from getting stuck in the odd jam because of rubber neckers looking at some poor chap who has fallen asleep and gone of the road, I have had few problems. Similar journeys in CA or SE England are far more problematic despite the fact that multilane highways are constantly being built.
In summary what I believe is that any money spent on road transport improvements should be targetted at: enforcing the law, restricting the hours that truck and coach drivers are permitted to work, making traffic signs clearer and making road surfaces less dangerous.
All interesting stuff. I seem to remember reading in th BKK Post last year that the government had already approved the doubling up of the railway tracks as far as Surat Thani. That was before the national election though.
As for safety, I think we all know what should be done first to tackle that problem.
I have made the journey from Nakon Si Tammarat to Bangkok more times than I care to remember. Apart from getting stuck in the odd jam because of rubber neckers looking at some poor chap who has fallen asleep and gone of the road, I have had few problems. Similar journeys in CA or SE England are far more problematic despite the fact that multilane highways are constantly being built.
In summary what I believe is that any money spent on road transport improvements should be targetted at: enforcing the law, restricting the hours that truck and coach drivers are permitted to work, making traffic signs clearer and making road surfaces less dangerous.
[color=blue][size=134]Care in the community success story.[/size][/color]
Lets be honest.
The money for this could be used for other projects where it would be easier for more tea money to be skimmed.
I'm surprised to even see Taksin using pollution as part of a reason.
I do like the current King more than any famous figure in Thailand or its history.
I saw a birthday speech from HRH the King and i'd like to see a lot more of them.
It would be great if Thai people acted more on his words and really took them to heart.
If the English versions of The King's birthday speeches aren't in search it would be good to post them.
The money for this could be used for other projects where it would be easier for more tea money to be skimmed.
I'm surprised to even see Taksin using pollution as part of a reason.
I do like the current King more than any famous figure in Thailand or its history.
I saw a birthday speech from HRH the King and i'd like to see a lot more of them.
It would be great if Thai people acted more on his words and really took them to heart.
If the English versions of The King's birthday speeches aren't in search it would be good to post them.
Re: Thaksin scraps gulf seabridge project on King's advice
Many pockets requiring linings, methinks.shakin' boxcar joe wrote:... why invest billions in an expensive high maintenance project that serves little purpose other than to upset the environmental brigade...
The real fear is that this project could have cost considerably more than the current estimate, such estimates being notoriously inaccurate, and the King is right to ask his government to "re-consider". The new building designed to house the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh was initially estimated to cost about 50 Million GBP, but in what I personally consider to be a national disgrace, actually cost over 400 million GBP. Just to illustrate the scale of mis-estimation that is possible !
And if the bridge had been built, did anyone consider what it could cost to maintain ??? Thailand isn't a rich country, just look around, and the absence of rural motorway arteries is down to resources. Elevated motorways in BKK are justifiable in an urban environment, too congested to offer any alternative, but an elevated motorway across the sea ? Get real.
Transport is a vital part of any country's economy, road, rail, air and sea. A Study into the requirements of Thailand over the next 20 years would be fascinating. I'm no expert on the economy of LOS, indeed no expert on anything, really, but common sense has been voiced by an obviously very sensible Monarch and full respect to him !
And if the bridge had been built, did anyone consider what it could cost to maintain ??? Thailand isn't a rich country, just look around, and the absence of rural motorway arteries is down to resources. Elevated motorways in BKK are justifiable in an urban environment, too congested to offer any alternative, but an elevated motorway across the sea ? Get real.
Transport is a vital part of any country's economy, road, rail, air and sea. A Study into the requirements of Thailand over the next 20 years would be fascinating. I'm no expert on the economy of LOS, indeed no expert on anything, really, but common sense has been voiced by an obviously very sensible Monarch and full respect to him !
Flying Scotsman
there ill always be an abundance of sources of skimmed cash for the corrupt politians here with the twisted fake forced smile.
If one was not corrupt i don't think they could survive as a politian here. Just the way it is.
Like the chief brother said some people take more than others here. Wish they would skim less in this area as the road outside here is not really a road. potholes with some tarmac in between.
I'll put a garden gnome fishing beside one big wet pothole and take a nice picture.
If one was not corrupt i don't think they could survive as a politian here. Just the way it is.
Like the chief brother said some people take more than others here. Wish they would skim less in this area as the road outside here is not really a road. potholes with some tarmac in between.
I'll put a garden gnome fishing beside one big wet pothole and take a nice picture.