Minister inspects progress of road construction in Phuket

BANGKOK, March 10 (TNA) - Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan inspected a progress on the construction of an elevated road across the Klong Koh Phee mangrove forest in Thailand’s southern Phuket province Saturday, aimed at easing traffic on the renowned Thai resort island. The elevated road under construction is considered as significant on the southern flank of the Phuket municipality and will pass through the mangrove forest for a total distance of 600 metres, covering a total area of over seven rai. After completion, the new elevated road will have two parallel bridges with two traffic lanes on each side. Besides car traffic lanes, there will be special lanes for bicycles with the width of two metres. A total cost of the construction of the new road is 200 million baht. The elevated road project is one of many projects under construction, aimed to solve growing traffic in Phuket, known as the "Pearl of the Andaman". Phuket authorities are expected to ask for a special government budget during a mobile Cabinet meeting to be held on the resort island from March 19–20 to help foot construction bills. (TNA)