CHON BURI: Restaurants and shops have called on Pattaya City to suspend the one-way traffic system along Jomtien beach, which they say is hurting their businesses.
It was put in place to ease underground drainage works during the rainy season.
The businesses said they agreed with the drainage work.
However, the project has yet to start while City Hall has already launched the one-way traffic system along the beach which has caused heavy congestion and deterred people from visiting the area, they claim.
The firms have urged local authorities to suspend the arrangement until the work is underway.
At least 200 businesses including restaurants, cafés and massage shops met Kritsana Bunsawat, deputy mayor of Pattaya, yesterday to discuss their grievances.
The new system kicked off on March 1 along a 3.7-kilometre section of the road, starting from the Dong Tan curve to the Chaiyaphruek intersection, in preparation for the drainage work.
The work is estimated to cost at least 500 million baht and take up to 19 months to complete, it was reported.
According to news reports, the builder has proposed wrapping up the work sooner than planned which would ease traffic jams.
The revised plan is now awaiting the mayor's signature.
Mr Kritsana, who also operates a business on Jomtien Beach Street, said the complaints about the traffic woes were understandable.
He said vendors have seen their income plunge since the one-way traffic change was put in place.
It has driven many families away from the beach, he said, adding many families normally head to Pattaya during the school break.
Mr Kritsana said the businesses will submit a petition to city officials. They also plan to seek compensation for their lost revenue, he added.