Rama 2 Road, or better known as ‘7ชั่วโคตร’ for being under construction for the past seven generations, is going to see more construction starting Wednesday, prompting concerns from local residents.
Rama 2 Road, currently more than 50 kilometers long, is one of the shortest routes to Hua Hin and southern Thailand but the road has been under construction for as long as people living in the area can remember.
Since 1973, the road has been under construction and repairs. Despite the 14-lane highway, traffic logjams have remained a constant problem for decades.
The road has become so problematic that it has become the butt of many jokes.
Part of the problem is that the highway is frequently used by heavy and commercial vehicles on their way to the south of Thailand. This creates a problem as the surface condition of the road is constantly in need of repair.
More pain on the way
Unfortunately for the commuters and residents, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) will be building a new ‘motorway’ connecting Rama 3 Road to Rama 2 outbound towards Samut Sakorn.
The six-lane highway will be called ‘Motorway 82’ and will be an elevated motorway running similar to the Don Muang Tollway and Bangna Expressway.
The construction of this new ‘motorway’ is set to start this Wednesday and will take three years to complete, allegedly.
The new project will connect Rama III Expressway, Dao Khanong and the Western Outer Ring to help reduce congestion occurring on Burapha Withi Expressway, Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway, Rama 4 Bridge and Rama 2 Road.
The highway department’s survey has found that the amount of car traffic through the Rama 2 Road currently stands at around 270,000 cars per day.
Saksayam Chidchob, the Transport Minister, told reporters that once completed, the highway will alleviate traffic congestion.
Viability in question
Though the new elevated toll road will be above Highway 35 and its priority will be to alleviate traffic congestion on the existing road and provide commuters with a convenient, fast, and safe alternate route, critics have balked at the price of the project.
The overall cost of the entire project is around 48,300 million baht which can be divided into investment cost (around 32,000 million baht) and operation and maintenance costs (approximately 16,000 million baht).
But after sluggish economic growth for the past decade, critics have asked the government whether a new motorway to the south was necessary or should the priority be made elsewhere.
