Five construction projects initiated by City Hall are being sped up to alleviate traffic congestion around the capital, deputy Bangkok governor Chakkaphan Phewngam says.
He has instructed Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials overseeing the construction projects and contractors to speed up their work.
He was speaking yesterday after an inspection of the construction site of the Mahai Sawan Underpass project to push for its completion by April 1.
The city's longest underpass, Mahai Sawan, which is parallel to Taksin Road and intersects with Ratchadapisek Road, is expected to ease traffic problems and divert traffic from the inner city.
Construction work on the project began on Oct 11, 2011 and was expected to be completed in two years.
But the work was delayed for more than three years, with five time-limit extensions.
He said a flyover project on Charan Sanitwong and Kanchanaphisek roads is expected to be finished by next week.
Mr Chakkaphan said work on an underpass linking Charan Sanitwong Road to Phran Nok Road (Fai Chai T-junction) is 62% complete.
He said the underpass project has been put off until August to allow the MRT to work on its project. The BMA has shared the construction area with the MRT's Blue Line extension on Charan Sanitwong Road.
Mr Chakkaphan said the BMA will hold talks on Monday with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA), overseeing the Blue Line extension to discuss the delay to ensure the two projects will finish on schedule.
Earlier, the BMA sought help from the MRTA to add a traffic lane near Fai Chai junction, allowing for more cars and it had agreed, he added.
As for the Suthawas Road expansion project, Mr Chakkaphan said he had ordered the Bangkok Noi district chief to prepare for the relocation of more than 300 trees near the project to make way for construction.
Sutthiwat Road, which links Itsaraphap and Charan Sanitwong roads and runs alongside railway tracks, will be expanded from two lanes to four lanes. To help facilitate traffic flow, a two-lane 350-metre flyover will also be built to cross Charan Sanitwong Road.
As for the Arun Amarin Bridge project, Mr Chakkaphan said he has sought help from the MRTA to use an area near Wat Luang Por Bot Noi owned by the MRTA for vendors who have been affected by the project, allowing work to continue.