The bustling streets of Kaset-Nawamin Road now find their rhythm interrupted by the sight of towering foundations, signaling the long-anticipated arrival of a new expressway. Yes, folks, the third-phase expressway’s N2 section is coming to life! But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves – there’s a twist in this tale.
In a twist that might make you do a double-take, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) has proposed a sleek underground route to replace the embattled N1 Expressway section. Now, residents might not be jumping for joy at this development. Picture this: a heated third hearing held in a bustling Bangkok hotel, attended by more than 50 vibrant residents, each with their own story to tell.
Manawat Kamolsilp, a local hero of sorts, voiced a concern many are echoing, “Building an underground route is set to burn a 50 billion baht hole in our pockets, compared to the 17 billion baht needed for an elevated expressway. Why splash the extra cash when the underpass is both cheaper to build and easier to link with other projects?” And Manawat isn’t stopping there. He highlights that the elevated option promises lower maintenance costs and reduced toll fees – a win all around, don’t you think?
Enter Lt Gen Mahatthana Kamolsilp, another resident with a firm grasp of the situation. She pointed out the emotional toll land expropriation had already exacted on the community for the expressway project. Adding more land to the underground route? That’s pushing the limits of goodwill.
With heavy hearts and loaded words, the debate rages on. But Exat, under the vigilant gaze of Governor Surachet Laophulsuk, seems committed to the underground route. Surachet revealed that Exat is gearing up to present the finer details to the Transport Ministry, and fingers are crossed for cabinet approval.
An environmental impact assessment is slated for early next year. Should everything go smoothly, bidding will pave the way in 2026, with actual construction kicking off the subsequent year. A five-year project, with 70,000 vehicles expected to zip through the underpass daily in its inaugural year – a sight to behold!
Surachet, with unwavering confidence, justified the underpass as the most feasible option after considering a bouquet of factors – engineering marvels, hefty investment costs, and environmental impact. The underpass promises to be a grand 6.3-kilometer stretch running along Ngarmwongwan Road, slicing through Phongphet Intersection, Bang Khen Intersection, and Kaset Intersection before seamlessly merging with the N2 Expressway. Cue the futuristic cityscape visions!
This underground marvel, with its cut and cover structure, will boast an entry and exit of 1.75km alongside a 2.49km elevated structure to dovetail with the N2-phase expressway. Visualize it – a towering tunnel more than 40 meters tall, akin to a 10-storey building. Even Bruce Wayne might be impressed!
A sprinkle of economic insight reveals that this ambitious undertaking commands a projected cost of 49 billion baht, with 44.5 billion earmarked for construction, 3.6 billion for land expropriation, and 1.06 billion for meticulous construction supervision. Financially robust, Exat is even contemplating bearing the financial mantle itself, potentially issuing bonds to bankroll the project.
And it’s all about foreseeing prospects; Surachet is optimistic that this underpass will quell environmental concerns fluttering around the previous design. The northern section of the three-phase project is split into two stages. The N2 stage – a robust 11.3 km from Prasertmanukit Road to the eastern Outer Ring Road – attracts a 16.9 billion baht investment. Meanwhile, the N1 stage, after exhaustive brainstorming and consultations with Kasetsart University and local communities, finally made room for the underpass.
So there you have it, dear reader, a tale woven with the threads of ingenuity, community sentiments, and a dash of financial wizardry. Kaset-Nawamin Road awaits the dawn of a new era with this expressway rising from its very foundations, quite literally!
I can’t believe they’re thinking about spending 50 billion baht on this! That money could be used for schools or hospitals.
But infrastructure is important too. Without it, we can’t have a functioning city. Traffic is a real nightmare right now.
Sure, Tommy, but there must be a balance. We can’t neglect other essential services.
I agree with Sarah. This seems like a vanity project more than anything substantial. 50 billion is way too much.
Why are people so bent out of shape about the underground route? It’s way more efficient in the long-term.
Because it’s an exorbitant expenditure! We’re already in economic trouble.
But isn’t that what investments are for? We spend now to reap benefits later.
Investment is fine, but where’s the transparency? How can we trust the government to manage this properly?
Traffic is going to be hellish during the construction! Has anyone thought about how this will disrupt our day-to-day lives?
That’s inevitable with any large-scale project. Short-term pain for long-term gain, you know?
Easy for you to say. Some of us can’t afford to have our daily commute disrupted for years!
I still think the elevated expressway is the better option. Less cost, less maintenance. I stand by my point.
But elevated expressways are such an eyesore. The underground option is so much cleaner and less impactful on the environment.
Aesthetic appeal doesn’t justify an extra 30 billion baht. Let’s be realistic here.
It’s important to consider environmental impact. Elevated structures can lead to more noise and air pollution.
Why not prioritize other infrastructure projects first? There are so many areas in desperate need of development.
And what about the land expropriation? This project is going to displace even more families. Where’s the consideration for them?
They say it’s just a small amount of land, but every inch counts to those who live there.
Exactly! It’s not just about the land, it’s about the people and their lives.
Let’s not disregard the emotional toll this project has already had. More land expropriation is simply unacceptable.
Thanks for voicing this, Lt. Gen. It’s easy for the planners to forget the human aspect.
We are making every effort to minimize the impact on residents. This project is for the greater good.
The engineering feat of this underground expressway is going to be nothing short of amazing!
Sure, but just because we can build something, doesn’t mean we should.
Innovation drives progress, Liam. We’re talking about the future here!
But progress at what cost? It feels excessive to me.
I’m just worried about the environmental impact. Will this really improve our quality of life?
The current state of traffic does more harm than good. An efficient route could actually be better for the environment.
How will Exat finance this project? Bonds sound risky in this economy.
The current debates around this project show how deeply divided we are on infrastructure development.
As someone who lives near there, all I can say is that the current state is unbearable. Any improvement would be welcome.