Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Udon Thani news, views and comments
Post Reply
User avatar
tamada
udonmap.com
Posts: 17221
Joined: February 21, 2007, 4:03 am
Location: Down two...then left

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by tamada » November 20, 2019, 11:49 am

jackspratt wrote:
November 20, 2019, 10:21 am
parrot wrote:
November 19, 2019, 3:19 pm
The bridge/tunnel is scheduled to open on 24 Nov. Those who are instagram-conscious can walk through the tunnel on 23 Nov.
Thanks for the heads-up, parrot.

This should be a huge improvement for traffic movement at that major intersection. Just as the tunnel in Pattaya has proved to be.

But that hasn't stopped the whinging farangs from piling in - seems our hosts can't do anything right. ;)
As dragonz mentioned earlier, the heaviest traffic flows are to/from the ring road/Nongkhai and that would have been better and less expensively served by a 4-lane, dog-legged flyover and no under/overpasses. As it stands now, only the heavy southbound traffic from Nongkhai benefits from a wider, uninterrupted left turn whereas the equally busy contraflow still has traffic lights to contend with. If memory serves me correctly, north-bound, right-turning traffic traffic was pretty much a beast most of the time and especially at peak times and filtering the ~15% of straight-through traffic onto the flyover isn't going to make much difference IMHO. Maybe the 'savings' are in the fact that they probably won't need to resurface the underpass and overpass so often?

PS: That Pattaya tunnel gets you from the Highway 7 traffic lights to the South Pattaya traffic lights about 8 seconds faster... and then you wait again. Admittedly, the top-side traffic management in and out of Central Pattaya and the dark-side is easier.

The whole nation is on a overpass/underpass building fad with Phuket, Chiang Mai and Korat hell bent on the construction of super impressive but disproportionately expensive 'solutions' to non-existent traffic management. Get yours while you can!



User avatar
stattointhailand
udonmap.com
Posts: 19114
Joined: October 25, 2007, 11:34 pm
Location: Oiling the locks on my gun case

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by stattointhailand » November 20, 2019, 11:54 am

Bandung_Dero wrote:
November 20, 2019, 11:03 am
Check out the facebook video (posted 4th Nov) at the 2:40 mark. Upgrade not finished and a stupid motorcyclist turns from a side street and rides up the wrong side of the road, in the middle. Signs of things to come?
That is perfectly normal practice BD, it is more usual to happen 90 deg further round the intersection where they come out of Tesco Lotus (entrance) go against the traffic for 50 metres and then round the u turn (the wrong way) and that is cars/pickups as well as bikes :roll:

User avatar
Barney
udonmap.com
Posts: 4412
Joined: November 1, 2012, 5:51 am
Location: Outback of Nong Samrong Udon Thani

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by Barney » November 20, 2019, 12:20 pm

Can you Imagine if you were a kid sitting enclosed in a car for 2900 painful school journeys listening to an old fart go on and on and on about the new traffic bridge and tunnel build.

This improved intersection will be a huge bonus, the Laos people will get to the bargains in Udon much quicker.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar
jackspratt
udonmap.com
Posts: 16084
Joined: July 2, 2006, 5:29 pm

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by jackspratt » November 20, 2019, 1:14 pm

I am sure the kid/s will be hugely relieved now it is in operation.

No doubt they were also smart enough to figure out that it wasn't being built just for grand/dad. 8-[

saint
udonmap.com
Posts: 3516
Joined: February 28, 2008, 5:31 pm
Location: On lookout duty ,spotting for snipers .

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by saint » November 20, 2019, 1:43 pm

[/quote]

As dragonz mentioned earlier, the heaviest traffic flows are to/from the ring road/Nongkhai and that would have been better and less expensively served by a 4-lane, dog-legged flyover and no under/overpasses. As it stands now, only the heavy southbound traffic from Nongkhai benefits from a wider, uninterrupted left turn whereas the equally busy contraflow still has traffic lights to contend with. If memory serves me correctly, north-bound, right-turning traffic traffic was pretty much a beast most of the time and especially at peak times and filtering the ~15% of straight-through traffic onto the flyover isn't going to make much difference IMHO. Maybe the 'savings' are in the fact that they probably won't need to resurface the underpass and overpass so often
[/quote]

Whilst i agree with what yourself and Dragonz are saying , perhaps they are thinking longer term . I know rare but possible !!!!!
If and when the outer ring road gets built , that right turn will in fact have a lot less traffic than it does now .
However if the outer ringroad does get built , then this little fiasco will be a complete waste of time .
Better spending the money digging up the west ringroad southbound and starting again , using a different contractor .
I see an accident on this road every week now . Its just falling to bits . Corruption at its finest . :-" :-"
Unfortunately , soon someones going to die on that stretch of road .

User avatar
parrot
udonmap.com
Posts: 10925
Joined: March 19, 2006, 8:32 pm

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by parrot » November 20, 2019, 3:28 pm

I can't say if the tunnel/overpass is good or bad for traffic patterns......what I do know is that there were a few years of public discussions in Udon about ideas to alleviate traffic problems. The project completion is right on schedule......I find it amazing when just 14 or so months ago the place was a disaster. Similarly, discussions are underway for an alternate route to Bangkok from Loei that would bypass Udon completely.
https://www.facebook.com/68068484206098 ... 3BhH3FOnHe
Likewise, there have been several years worth of discussions about a bypass road from NK Hwy to the Sakonnakhon Hwy that would avoid the tunnel/overpass completely.

The billboard announced public discussions about the tunnel/overpass back in Dec 2012
Attachments
IMG_1931.JPG

User avatar
parrot
udonmap.com
Posts: 10925
Joined: March 19, 2006, 8:32 pm

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by parrot » November 20, 2019, 4:39 pm

The opportunity to walk/run the 2km stretch of new road is set for 7am on 23 Nov. I consulted my crystal ball and it said there'll probably be some fur balls in traffic around that time. The road is set to open on the 24th.
Attachments
71641652_2866094620069449_7278299554586296320_n.jpg

User avatar
Brian Davis
udonmap.com
Posts: 2422
Joined: January 26, 2008, 8:14 pm
Location: Phen (Udon Thani Province)

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by Brian Davis » November 20, 2019, 5:05 pm

parrot wrote:
November 20, 2019, 4:39 pm
The opportunity to walk/run the 2km stretch of new road is set for 7am on 23 Nov. I consulted my crystal ball and it said there'll probably be some fur balls in traffic around that time. The road is set to open on the 24th.
I know you're into translating things, Parrot. An early start, but a closing time? My wife suggests the walk/run/bicycle ride ALSO involves the bridge.

User avatar
parrot
udonmap.com
Posts: 10925
Joined: March 19, 2006, 8:32 pm

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by parrot » November 20, 2019, 5:27 pm

Brian Davis wrote:
November 20, 2019, 5:05 pm
parrot wrote:
November 20, 2019, 4:39 pm
The opportunity to walk/run the 2km stretch of new road is set for 7am on 23 Nov. I consulted my crystal ball and it said there'll probably be some fur balls in traffic around that time. The road is set to open on the 24th.
I know you're into translating things, Parrot. An early start, but a closing time? My wife suggests the walk/run/bicycle ride ALSO involves the bridge.
There's no indication of a closing time. Yes, my understanding is the bridge and tunnel are included

dragonz
udonmap.com
Posts: 513
Joined: October 24, 2017, 8:29 am

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by dragonz » November 21, 2019, 7:11 pm

tamada wrote:
November 20, 2019, 11:49 am
jackspratt wrote:
November 20, 2019, 10:21 am
parrot wrote:
November 19, 2019, 3:19 pm
It is 100% correct /. I live near nakha on the nong khai road and turning right at rush hour is a nightmare when coming back from big c . The lights at global house turn green 3 times before i got through last time and when i got to the right turn for nong khai it is nearly always quicker to go straight on and do a uturn at tesco come back and turn left . Never much traffic going straight on passed tesco as nothing down that way except nong bua lamphu and you would use the other ring road to go there from bkk so the tunnel is a waste of money


As dragonz mentioned earlier, the heaviest traffic flows are to/from the ring road/Nongkhai and that would have been better and less expensively served by a 4-lane, dog-legged flyover and no under/overpasses. As it stands now, only the heavy southbound traffic from Nongkhai benefits from a wider, uninterrupted left turn whereas the equally busy contraflow still has traffic lights to contend with. If memory serves me correctly, north-bound, right-turning traffic traffic was pretty much a beast most of the time and especially at peak times and filtering the ~15% of straight-through traffic onto the flyover isn't going to make much difference IMHO. Maybe the 'savings' are in the fact that they probably won't need to resurface the underpass and overpass so often?

User avatar
stattointhailand
udonmap.com
Posts: 19114
Joined: October 25, 2007, 11:34 pm
Location: Oiling the locks on my gun case

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by stattointhailand » November 21, 2019, 10:19 pm

dragonz wrote:
November 21, 2019, 7:11 pm
tamada wrote:
November 20, 2019, 11:49 am
jackspratt wrote:
November 20, 2019, 10:21 am
parrot wrote:
November 19, 2019, 3:19 pm
It is 100% correct /. I live near nakha on the nong khai road and turning right at rush hour is a nightmare when coming back from big c . The lights at global house turn green 3 times before i got through last time and when i got to the right turn for nong khai it is nearly always quicker to go straight on and do a uturn at tesco come back and turn left . Never much traffic going straight on passed tesco as nothing down that way except nong bua lamphu and you would use the other ring road to go there from bkk so the tunnel is a waste of money


As dragonz mentioned earlier, the heaviest traffic flows are to/from the ring road/Nongkhai and that would have been better and less expensively served by a 4-lane, dog-legged flyover and no under/overpasses. As it stands now, only the heavy southbound traffic from Nongkhai benefits from a wider, uninterrupted left turn whereas the equally busy contraflow still has traffic lights to contend with. If memory serves me correctly, north-bound, right-turning traffic traffic was pretty much a beast most of the time and especially at peak times and filtering the ~15% of straight-through traffic onto the flyover isn't going to make much difference IMHO. Maybe the 'savings' are in the fact that they probably won't need to resurface the underpass and overpass so often?
Unfortunately it will not be "quicker to go straight on and do a uturn at tesco come back and turn left . " as they have now removed the u turn, so you will need to do the "U" turn at Nong Samrong traffic lights to come back :roll:

User avatar
tamada
udonmap.com
Posts: 17221
Joined: February 21, 2007, 4:03 am
Location: Down two...then left

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by tamada » November 21, 2019, 11:03 pm

I also noted that for all the wide open spaces that have been created in and around the new traffic lights at ground zero, there is actually only one more lane at the lights than existed before all this started. Certainly looks impressive with what looks like 8 lane approaches that eventually drop to only 4 lanes at the lights.

Also, they have invested in the full set of dual-filtering traffic lights as pretty much every other traffic intersection but NOBODY has worked out that to use filter-turning effectively, automated junctions must be 'trained' to know when using filter lights is most effective. Right now it looks like a basic 4-way with basic 4-way timing which hasn't been adjusted for rush hour yet.

There's also a huge bunker type building on the SE corner which will make for the biggest police box I have seen in Thailand if that's what it is. I may be wrong but it lacks windows facing the intersection so maybe it's the flood defenses (pumping station)?

User avatar
Zidane
udonmap.com
Posts: 7075
Joined: July 6, 2005, 12:24 pm
Location: Udon Thani

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by Zidane » November 22, 2019, 6:06 am

parrot wrote:
November 20, 2019, 4:39 pm
The opportunity to walk/run the 2km stretch of new road is set for 7am on 23 Nov. I consulted my crystal ball and it said there'll probably be some fur balls in traffic around that time. The road is set to open on the 24th.
People were taking selfies in the tunnel yesterday.
Where they parked I don't know.
Monday could be a mixture of people driving to work and people stopping taking selfies, so be aware and drive carefully.
Just when I thought our chance had passed,you go and save the best for last.

User avatar
Khun Paul
udonmap.com
Posts: 7743
Joined: September 16, 2008, 3:28 pm
Location: Udon Thani

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by Khun Paul » November 22, 2019, 6:54 am

I* personally think allowing the hype to die down ( hopefully not literally ) a couple of weeks go and see the chaos or not as the case mayube and decide if it is worth it or do what I do now pop up through Nong Sam Rong and turn left a hellava lot quicker

User avatar
FrazeeDK
udonmap.com
Posts: 4910
Joined: February 13, 2006, 2:02 am
Location: Udon Thani Thailand

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by FrazeeDK » November 22, 2019, 6:57 am

for those bemoaning the problems turning north to Nong Khai at the new intersection remember, they've had the proposed Outer Ring Road in planning for years.. Eventually that will be completed and run from 20 km south of Udon (near the Regional Cancer Center) on both the east and west sides of Udon. It supposedly will link up on the north side near the road that goes to Ban Pheu.. That will remove nearly all of the Nong Khai/Laos bound freight traffic and make the Inner Ring Road a lot easier to drive..
Udon ring road plan updated Jan 2016.jpg
Dave

User avatar
747man
udonmap.com
Posts: 15135
Joined: March 25, 2007, 2:22 pm

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by 747man » November 22, 2019, 11:09 am

Khun Paul wrote:
November 22, 2019, 6:54 am
I* personally think allowing the hype to die down ( hopefully not literally ) a couple of weeks go and see the chaos or not as the case mayube and decide if it is worth it or do what I do now pop up through Nong Sam Rong and turn left a hellava lot quicker
Paul, Whenever I've had reason to go to The Airport That's What I've Done for the past 3 Years !!

dragonz
udonmap.com
Posts: 513
Joined: October 24, 2017, 8:29 am

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by dragonz » November 22, 2019, 11:27 am

FrazeeDK wrote:
November 22, 2019, 6:57 am
for those bemoaning the problems turning north to Nong Khai at the new intersection remember, they've had the proposed Outer Ring Road in planning for years.. Eventually that will be completed and run from 20 km south of Udon (near the Regional Cancer Center) on both the east and west sides of Udon. It supposedly will link up on the north side near the road that goes to Ban Pheu.. That will remove nearly all of the Nong Khai/Laos bound freight traffic and make the Inner Ring Road a lot easier to drive..
Udon ring road plan updated Jan 2016.jpg
now that would be a ring road but again pretty stupid . does not need a ring road just a bypass around one side so the traffic from bkk can go to nongkhai and laos . cut the left side off as not needed

User avatar
stattointhailand
udonmap.com
Posts: 19114
Joined: October 25, 2007, 11:34 pm
Location: Oiling the locks on my gun case

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by stattointhailand » November 22, 2019, 4:40 pm

I'm beginning to think that having your brain removed BEFORE getting any sort of planning job must be the norm in Thailand.

Where else in the world would you plan to take a centre lane out of a major highway to paint arrows on the road at 4pm on a weekday?

I can just see the planning meeting now .....

"well boss my team and I have done all the number crunching, and it seems the ideal time, to cause least disruption would be between 2am and 4am on any morning"

Right, and planning team co-ordinater Porn, err, is your husband and his paint brush available to do the work between 2am & 4am?

"well sir, he could, but it will be at time & a half"

Right that's settled then 16:00 on Friday evening it is

User avatar
Barney
udonmap.com
Posts: 4412
Joined: November 1, 2012, 5:51 am
Location: Outback of Nong Samrong Udon Thani

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by Barney » November 22, 2019, 7:40 pm

Stop crying about it.
Maybe they are going to work through the night. There has been approx 2 years of disruption, a few more days won’t kill anyone.
Not sure if any of you have recently been on a tight schedule to finish a major project, requiring work to be completed for the upcoming opening day.
Sure to be plenty of local dignitaries on deck for the ribbon cutting.
Just let the locals celebrate this one major project completion.

I actually had to drive through all 4 directions today. And IMHO there were no problems without the tunnel or flyover in operation.
The lights timings are sure to be adjusted as time goes by and the Thai idiocy will be seen trying to short cut the systems in place. The gene pool will be reduced for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

User avatar
stattointhailand
udonmap.com
Posts: 19114
Joined: October 25, 2007, 11:34 pm
Location: Oiling the locks on my gun case

Re: Overpass/tunnel Udon Ringroad Nongkai Hwy

Post by stattointhailand » November 22, 2019, 7:53 pm

Barney it was only painting little white arrows on the road, which could have been done any night over the last week without causing ANY delay to ANY traffic, and they would have been dry and ready to drive over by the time the traffic increased in the morning.
Its got sweet FA to do with "tight schedules" coz they have had every night this week to do it ..... those on the south side were done 7 days ago :evil:

Post Reply

Return to “Udon Thani News”