The Transport Ministry plans to build three tunnels under three intersections on Vibhavadi Rangsit Highway in a scheme to cut traffic congestion.
Soithip Trisuddhi, permanent secretary for transport, said the tunnels were designed to solve traffic problems in the areas of Wat Samian Nari, and Ngam Wong Wan and Chaeng Wattana Roads after the Red Line electric train route covering Taling Chan-Bang Sue-Rangsit begins operating in 2018.
The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning was asked to study details and give feedback within six months.
"The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will be responsible for building the tunnels parallel to the SRT Red Line. The Red Line's traffic management budget will be allocated for tunnel construction. The tunnels will be complete by 2018 when the Red Line begins service. The initial budget for each tunnel is about 40 million baht and will not exceed 150 million baht," Ms Soithip said.
The tunnel project is a part of a larger 470-million-baht plan for solving traffic congestion along Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
The plan will be divided into three phases: a six-month urgent phase worth 20 million baht, a one-year medium phase worth 300 million baht and a long-term phase worth 150 million baht.
Solving congestion in front of Don Mueang airport will be undertaken in the first phase. It includes traffic management in front of Don Mueang railway station, a bridge into the airport, an exit by the entrance of the U-turn bridge in front of the Royal Thai Air Force area, and airport entrances and exits on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
The one-year medium phase will be divided into two schemes: improving the airport’s entrance and building a ramp to connect the Lak Si intersection overpass to inbound lanes of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
The long-term plan will tackle bottlenecks on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, connect U-turn bridges to inbound lanes of the Don Muang tollway and build ramps to link an exit of Don Muang tollway with Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.