4 Lanes, better roads around Buriram

[urleft]

@Co-Co

No problem.

We have done the ?Sa Kaeo/Non din Daeng? route before, but my wife (she even doesn?t do the driving ) prefers the ?Korat? route, because of a good restaurant near Wang Nam Khiao

That Sa Kaeo route I for sure will not do at night because of the ?desolation? of some parts of that route, but I wouldn?t drive the ?Korat? route at night either. The signage on that road (where the roadworks are) are TERRIBLE, We even had (some) trouble (during the day) to see where you have to go so bad was the signage.

Does anyone know why they are building (on the Korat mountain road) two tunnels ? These tunnels even aren?t going through the mountain but are just covered road section (2-300 meters long). Will go and see if I can find a picture in my Dash Cam footage.

This is probably the answer to the tunnel
https://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/1032733-tunnel-linking-khao-yai-with-tap-lan-national-parks-to-be-open-temporarily-during-songkran/?utm_source=newsletter-20180408-0944&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news

Also looks like they are building tunnels at the south part, unsure why.   

Still doesn't answer the question of why build the tunnels in the first place, no reason for a tunnel instead of a 4 lane road that I can determine.

[iammike]

Thx @ PKCNick.

@Urleft that is a real good picture and I also have no idea why the tunnel. But TiT

[mudcat]

Snow sheds for avalanches like in the Sierras and Rocky Mountains?

[Smithy]

Still doesn't answer the question of why build the tunnels in the first place, no reason for a tunnel instead of a 4 lane road that I can determine.

Apparently Khao Yai is a Unesco World Heritage Site and the Tunnels are to save wildlife on a section that cuts through Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex. 

[Smithy]

New Khao Yai 'corridor' must treat wildlife with care
Published: 20/03/2015 at 06:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
Fears that the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex will be stripped of its World Heritage Site status have faded from public attention, but the case remains a pressing issue given its new bid to expand road construction.

Thailand is racing against time to submit all the documents to the Unesco World Heritage Committee in a bid to stop the site, which covers 3.84 million rai or 6,152 sq km in six provinces, namely Sara Buri, Nakhon  Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo and Buri Ram, from losing Unesco protection. The decision will be made by the World Heritage Committee at a meeting this June in Bonn, Germany.

In fact, it's more precise to say that the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, also known as the Forest Complex of the East, is an urgent problem, among others, including the poor management of the Ayutthaya historical site, and the controversial nomination of Kaeng Krachan National Park as a World Heritage Site, which is beset by land rights conflicts between forest authorities with indigenous forest dwellers and the alarming disappearance of Karen community leader and forest conservationist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen on May 18 last year.

For the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, there remain a few contentious issues.

"The committee is concerned with the ongoing smuggling of rosewood, known as one of the priciest woods in the world, as well as the construction of a reservoir in Tablan National Park and Pang Sida National Park, part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex," said Petch Manopawitr, deputy head of Southeast Asia Group at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The World Heritage Committee is also keeping tabs on the Department of Highway's plans to expand the 304 Highway running through the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex. The development includes constructing the first wildlife corridor in Thailand at spots where wild animals have been frequently hit by vehicles. The wildlife corridor project is part of a pact the Thai government made with the Unesco World Heritage Committee when it was first nominated as a heritage site in 2005.

But the plan, which costs 2.99 billion baht, also involves road expansion, between two to four lanes, at a mountainous part of the 42nd-57th kilometre section. The department will call for bids on the project this year and construction is expected to start next year and be completed within three years.

The wildlife corridor will be erected at two spots on the highway: the 26th-29th km section and 42nd-57th km section. The first, which is regarded as a highly sensitive zone in Khao Yai National Park, will have an elevated flyover and a tunnel for vehicles. The second will feature an underpass that allows wild animals to move freely across.

The tunnel for wild animals is designed to mimic nature and so will be covered with earth and soil to help wildlife feel at home and not intimidated by the concrete structure.

Although conservationists generally oppose any form of construction in protected forests, they say the wildlife corridor project is more acceptable than road expansion. It is believed the tunnel will to help reduce wildlife deaths from vehicles along the 304 Highway.

Moreover, the 304 Highway has fragmented the forest complex, leading to inbreeding within animal groups as they are unable to migrate across the road to find non-familial mates.

Hannarong Yaowalers, a veteran environmental activist, is particularly concerned about environmental damage both during road construction and in the aftermath.

Mr Hannarong encouraged the Highway Department to allow conservation groups to help monitor the construction, especially since the area is not state property but is under the jurisdiction of Unesco as a World Heritage Site. But so far, the department has only commissioned business companies and consultants to monitor the project's environmental management.

In the long term, he said it's necessary for the department to track the movement of wildlife to evaluate whether the wildlife corridor will really work or not.The environmentalist is cautious about the impact of the construction work on wildlife and nature.

"I am afraid it is going to be just another construction project. Constructing here is not a matter to be taken lightly because the designated site involves vulnerable ecology," he said. "The Highway Department needs to be careful and ensure nature is well protected," he added.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/print/502979/

[urleft]

New Khao Yai 'corridor' must treat wildlife with care
Published: 20/03/2015 at 06:00 AM


The wildlife corridor will be erected at two spots on the highway: the 26th-29th km section and 42nd-57th km section. The first, which is regarded as a highly sensitive zone in Khao Yai National Park, will have an elevated flyover and a tunnel for vehicles. The second will feature an underpass that allows wild animals to move freely across.

The tunnel for wild animals is designed to mimic nature and so will be covered with earth and soil to help wildlife feel at home and not intimidated by the concrete structure.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/print/502979/

Thx Smitty, almost makes sense. 

Easy to know where the 26th-29th km section is located  (i.e., the tunnel), have to think about the 42nd-57th km section.  I think a recall and elevated road section about 20 km N of the Tunnel which is probably the 2nd feature they are referencing.

And I thought that elevated section was because of the terrain.

[smoooth2]

The tunnels and high level bridge are apparently linked to preserving endangered wildlife in Khao Yai NP.

The construction company involved is Ital-Thai.

Bit ironic that Ital-Thai CEO is currently up to his neck in brown stuff regarding dead endangered animals.

[lucky1962]

1 tunnel is open for trafic now, last week i drove tru 

[urleft]

I understand that they will start to charge as from April. No idea how much for the short stretch from the 36 down but I was told that Bangkok / pattaya will go up from 60 to 100.

Mike

They are now charging 10 baht between 36 & Pattaya.   Do not know about other increases. 

[nanglong218]

The upgrade of the remaining single track 218 Buriram to Nang Rong is going well. Last week a crane lifted the bridge spans into place.  I'm hoping this rainfall won't stop work by bogging down the heavy plant.  When finished it is 55 kms of dual road, far safer than the mad house that 10km stretch is now.

[Starman]

The upgrade of the remaining single track 218 Buriram to Nang Rong is going well. Last week a crane lifted the bridge spans into place.  I'm hoping this rainfall won't stop work by bogging down the heavy plant.  When finished it is 55 kms of dual road, far safer than the mad house that 10km stretch is now.

Nice to get back on topic "4 Lanes, better roads around Buriram".

Actually, I disagree with your comment above.

I have lived on the Buriram-NangRong road for more than 15 years. The majority of the accidents I have seen on this stretch have been on the 4 lane areas.

The accidents usually go something like this : Slow car driving in the outside lane. Doesn't react to flashing lights or the sounding of horns. Car behind has to pass on the inside lane. Someone coming out of a side road knows it's 4 lane so thinks it is OK to pull out into the inside lane and fast moving cars can go round them. Only problem is fast moving car can not pull out because the outside lane is full of slow moving cars.

Add to that that a 4 lane road means that some drivers feel they can drive a lot faster and even pull out into the oncoming traffic to overtake said slow car in outside lane. Until the local people understand the reasons for the local authorities building the 4 lanes, it will be just as or more dangerous than the 2 lane stretches.

[smoooth2]

The upgrade of the remaining single track 218 Buriram to Nang Rong is going well. Last week a crane lifted the bridge spans into place.  I'm hoping this rainfall won't stop work by bogging down the heavy plant.  When finished it is 55 kms of dual road, far safer than the mad house that 10km stretch is now.

Nice to get back on topic "4 Lanes, better roads around Buriram".

Actually, I disagree with your comment above.

I have lived on the Buriram-NangRong road for more than 15 years. The majority of the accidents I have seen on this stretch have been on the 4 lane areas.

The accidents usually go something like this : Slow car driving in the outside lane. Doesn't react to flashing lights or the sounding of horns. Car behind has to pass on the inside lane. Someone coming out of a side road knows it's 4 lane so thinks it is OK to pull out into the inside lane and fast moving cars can go round them. Only problem is fast moving car can not pull out because the outside lane is full of slow moving cars.

Add to that that a 4 lane road means that some drivers feel they can drive a lot faster and even pull out into the oncoming traffic to overtake said slow car in outside lane. Until the local people understand the reasons for the local authorities building the 4 lanes, it will be just as or more dangerous than the 2 lane stretches.

Starman. Whilst I agree with your assessment of poor driving techniques on 4 lane roads, I definately believe that 4 lanes is light years safer than any 2 lane stretch of highway.

The suicidal stuff that we've all seen by impatient drivers on 2 lane roads is truly scary.

[Starman]

The upgrade of the remaining single track 218 Buriram to Nang Rong is going well. Last week a crane lifted the bridge spans into place.  I'm hoping this rainfall won't stop work by bogging down the heavy plant.  When finished it is 55 kms of dual road, far safer than the mad house that 10km stretch is now.

Nice to get back on topic "4 Lanes, better roads around Buriram".

Actually, I disagree with your comment above.

I have lived on the Buriram-NangRong road for more than 15 years. The majority of the accidents I have seen on this stretch have been on the 4 lane areas.

The accidents usually go something like this : Slow car driving in the outside lane. Doesn't react to flashing lights or the sounding of horns. Car behind has to pass on the inside lane. Someone coming out of a side road knows it's 4 lane so thinks it is OK to pull out into the inside lane and fast moving cars can go round them. Only problem is fast moving car can not pull out because the outside lane is full of slow moving cars.

Add to that that a 4 lane road means that some drivers feel they can drive a lot faster and even pull out into the oncoming traffic to overtake said slow car in outside lane. Until the local people understand the reasons for the local authorities building the 4 lanes, it will be just as or more dangerous than the 2 lane stretches.

Starman. Whilst I agree with your assessment of poor driving techniques on 4 lane roads, I definately believe that 4 lanes is light years safer than any 2 lane stretch of highway.

The suicidal stuff that we've all seen by impatient drivers on 2 lane roads is truly scary.

Like I said, I have lived on that road for more tha 15 years. At that time it was virtually all 2 lane. The only accidents were uually driver error on the corner coming towards Sakaeprong.

Now there are frequent accidents on the 4 lane part around 12kms to 9kms from Buriram.

I agree that in some cases, route 24 for example, needs a wider road because of traffic volume. The 218 has too many schools and side roads for the speeds that are being driven.

I drove/rode up and down the 219 about 200 times last year whilst going to Prakhonchai. Most of it is 2 lane. One of the safest roads I have driven.

[Prakhonchai Nick]

2 main problems highlighted by Starman.

1) Vehicles sticking to the outside lane of 4 lane roads (dual carriageways) and refusing to move over
2) Vehicles (mainly motorbikes) pulling out of side turns without slowing/stopping-or even looking

No 2) happens all the time, 1 or 2 lanes whilst my estimate is that in Isaan, around 50% of drivers stay in the outside lane. It always amuses and annoys me, that when someone in the outside lane has to undertake a slower vehicle in the outside lane, they immediately return to the outside lane.

Near misses do not concern said drivers, and they continue to repeat their errors/poor/dangerous driving.

There is no education, and they will not listen even if told.

Only solution (except it wont happen) is hefty fines for all motoring offences (I see no reason why  a minimum 5,000baht should not be applied - don't break the law and you don't pay) with vehicle confiscation in the more serious cases. Then, and only then, they may think twice

[jivvy]

Only solution (except it wont happen) is hefty fines for all motoring offences (I see no reason why  a minimum 5,000baht should not be applied - don't break the law and you don't pay) with vehicle confiscation in the more serious cases. Then, and only then, they may think twice

  Unfortunately the B.I.B would have a field day with instant fines if that were to be applied.