Race to build flood walls for Bangkok

Published: 10/10/2011 at 06:09 PM
Online news:

Flood prevention measures for Bangkok have not been completed and the government is racing against time to prevent the capital being inundated, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitted on Monday.

The prime minister discussed the situation with senior officials at the government's flood relief centre at Don Mueang airport on Monday morning. They agreed that Bangkok needs three strong floodwalls upstream along the Chao Phraya River for protection.

The floodwalls will be built in Muang Ake housing estate in Pathum Thani, Rangsit Khlong 5 area and Taling Chan area behind Mahidol University. They will block floodwater from upper areas and divert it via the eastern and western outskirts of the capital to the sea, she said.

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About the author

: Writer: Pradit Ruangdit; Position: Reporter

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loyhaasip1
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Discussion 8 : 11/10/2011 at 12:18 AM8
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D4
Jersey barriers (courtesy of Google/Wikipedia)
The Jersey barrier was developed at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, United States, under the direction of the New Jersey State Highway Department to divide multiple lanes on a highway.[1] A typical Jersey barrier stands 32 inches (81 cm) tall and is made of steel-reinforced poured concrete.[2]
Probably not much use against 3.5m tides! but if you want to divide the traffic you are on a winner!!!!
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loyhaasip1
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Discussion 7 : 11/10/2011 at 12:09 AM7
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bkk-farang, you sound like a very switched on guy.
Perhaps you could be the "someone outside the government" who could keep a check on how much is paid per sand bag, to ensure that the good citizens of Thailand (does this include farangs?) are not ripped off here?
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johninbkk
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Discussion 6 : 10/10/2011 at 11:48 PM6
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This is supposedly the worst flooding Thailand has had in decades, with major flooding in 2/3rds of all provinces. I went down to the Chao Praya river two days ago, and it was only two feet below the wall level - scary!
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howell
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Discussion 5 : 10/10/2011 at 08:51 PM5
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'Ms Yingluck said the floodwall in Muang Ake housing estate will be 10 kilometres long. The floodwall in Rangsit Khlong 5 area requires 1.5 million sandbags.'

How many bags for Muang Ake ?
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howell
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Discussion 4 : 10/10/2011 at 08:19 PM4
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@drake. What is a Jersey barrier ? Please tell the government.

High tides, 3.50 mts on 13th and 14th too. Then even higher after 28th, peaking at 3.78 mts on 29th.

Is it crucial to release water from dams at this time ?
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frankieb
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Discussion 3 : 10/10/2011 at 07:20 PM3
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- Perfect timing!!
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 2 : 10/10/2011 at 06:54 PM2
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How many weeks had the Bangkok governor and the Thai government to prepare for this? It’s not like last week nobody knew about the coming flood.
About “The government would buy all the sandbags available from the private sector”: I hope someone outside the government (maybe the press) monitors how much money is paid for the sand bags. I would not be surprised if some politicians and businessmen try to make big money out of this.
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drake
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Discussion 1 : 10/10/2011 at 05:49 PM1
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Meanwhile, the expected high tides of 3.6+ meters on the 16th & 17th will be marching up FROM the sea towards the 2M high grounds of Bangkok because there is no wall on the South side.
PakNam is wide open...

Then, they've got only themselves to blame for trying to build emergency walls with sandbag alone. There are millions of Jersey barrier scattered all over the country. They makes perfect breakwater and you can even drive them in to the (soft) ground length wise. Cuts down the number of sandbag needed by at least half.
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Race to build flood walls for Bangkok | Bangkok Post: breakingnews