City police brainstorm flyover traffic fix

City police brainstorm flyover traffic fix

Authorities are seeking better solutions to ease traffic congestion on Ratchadaphisek Road and Phahon Yothin Road following the closure of the Ratchayothin intersection flyover to make way for the construction of the Green Line railway extension.

Deputy national police chief Dejnarong Sutthichanbuncha said the police are working on an effective traffic management plan to facilitate motorists and commuters during the demolition work, which started last night.

He urged motorists and commuters who use Ratchadaphisek Road and Phahon Yothin Road to plan ahead for their journeys, saying one or two lanes would be closed to allow backhoes to operate.

He was speaking Tuesday after a meeting at the Thai Traffic Police Office which he chaired to figure out traffic solutions and assess the performance of a trial closure of the Ratchayothin intersection flyover between Nov 22-28 when police diverted traffic near the intersection.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Bangkok governor Amnuay Nimmano who represented the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Police received only one complaint by a motorist on Nov 22 about heavy traffic during the trial closure, Pol Gen Dejnarong said.

The traffic re-routing implemented by the police was considered "effective", he added.

Devices will be installed at 49 intersections on Ratchadaphisek Road and near Ratchayothin intersection to detect and count the number of vehicles passing through the area, he said.

The device will allow traffic police to assess the real traffic situation at specific times of the day, helping them to respond to the problem more quickly, he added.

A team of traffic experts from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang will also be invited to observe the traffic situation near the intersection for seven days and give comments, he said.

Police will hold a meeting next Tuesday to evaluate whether the plan would work to reduce the impact of the flyover's closure or if it would need adjustments, Pol Gen Dejnarong said.

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