Commuters are warned heavy traffic is expected in parts of Bangkok on Friday afternoon and into the evening because of a military rehearsal for the King’s birthday, the opening of two new big department stores, and a protest.
The army said the King’s Guard will be marching at Sanam Luang about 3pm but some roads in the surrounding area will be closed from noon until 6pm. These include Maharat, Chan and Soi Phrayaphet. Other roads will be closed for about one hour from 3.30pm.
The second traffic jam is the opening of the new Central Festival East Ville department store on Pradit Manutham road in Lat Phrao district in the afternoon.
Chok Chai police expect a large crowd and commuters are warned to avoid the area if possible for most of the day. The road is a major outbound route for people living in the east of Bangkok, connecting to outbound Sukhumvit road via Ekamai road.
Extra traffic police are being deployed to the area.
The third traffic horror is the opening of the new zone of Zpell@Future Park Rangsit, situated on Phahon Yothin road in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani.
Although Pathum Thani is on the outskirts of Bangkok, heavy traffic in the area is expected to slow travel along routes leading to areas such as Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads.
A protest was also planned outside the US embassy on Witthayu road about 1pm by Buddha Isara against the new ambassador over his comments about the use of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law.