Chaos in Petchakasem

Guess · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:48 pm Post subject: Chaos in Petchakasem

Finally after six years of talking and promises the Testabahn have started work today. Ptchkasem Road is close to through traffic from Satakurn Square to past Chom Sin Road.

Traffic is being diverted via the railway road and the klong road.

Of course everybody must be already aware that this was going to happen today because of the plethora of advance warning notices displayed around the town and all the full page ads in the local papers.

Best bet is to allow one more hour for your journey.
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Farang · Guru Joined: 09 Jan 2003 Posts: 661

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So very clever to do this during the height of the season.
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lomuamart · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject:

What are they doing?
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

buksida · Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2006 8:05 pm Post subject:

Apparently they're doing something on that footbridge, either knocking it down or re-building it.

Drove through town today, it took around 45 minutes to cover 2km. Wait till half of Bangkok arrives at the weekend, then it'll be fun!
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Guess · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:45 am Post subject:

No it is more than that. They are completely renovating the market or at least that is what I presume as they have been stating that in the local Thai press for a while (without giving exact dates of course).

Why they need to close of the road is a mystery. When I was there early this morning, which most of you actually call early evening, there was a large demolition truck complete with gigantic shovel spanning the entire six lanes. They had already lifted out ten ton blocks of rubble. That in itself is a good reason to close the road. Hopefully that is just a tempory thing and the road will be opened soon.

I walked into the market and the whole central area and frontage has been vacated. There are some stalls still open at the rear (Sra Song Road side) but unless you want vegetables or dried fish then you are f***ed.

There was a rumour floating about, about six months ago that the stalls were going to get pitches somewhere up in Tawon Haa. I have noticed that some permanent (or semi) stalls have already been established in the old open market area in Tawon Haa. But I can only speculate.

Getting accurate and relevant facts in this town is like trying to stuff half a kilo of butter up a porcupines butt with a red hot needle.

BTW Tawon Haa is the area about one to two kilometres up the Pala-U road.

No spelling corrections please I have just taken an advanced course on global pheonetics and Indo-European Thai Kadai transliteration.
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Dougal · Amateur Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 41 Location: UK

I can recall reading about a year ago that the renovation of the market was planned which included the removal of the bridge.

The market area was to be preserved as the building itself was part of a conservation area or whatever the Thai equivalent is.

Not before time, it was always a dark and unhygenic place to go into.

caller · Ace Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 1959 Location: Londonistan

I claim to be the only person in living mrmory that has walked over that bridge!

What chance do you give the work being finished by April?

And I liked the old market!
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troopie · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:59 am Post subject: Doing the 'Groucho'!

lomuamart · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:07 am Post subject:

I walked it once myself. Think it was Songkran a few years ago and the old bill were getting very agitated at people walking over the main road to and from the night market. Everyong was being sheparded to the walkover.
The old market's coming back, I believe. The work's just for renovation. My normal meat and veg stalls have temporarily moved to the other side of Sra Song road. Reckon most, if not all, have.
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.

Dougal · Amateur Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 41 Location: UK

My recollection was that the bridge removal is permanent but of course my memory could be wrong or plans could change. The mention of the cables makes me think that I too have done the limbo. I might even have some pictures somewhere - Songkhran 2004.

Guess · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 4:04 am Post subject:

The market frontage (which is the protected bit I have been told by the locals) is actually in Sra Song Road. That appears to have been left alone so far although I believe that some renovation is planned. If you go into the Kodak store just south of the night market road on the west side of Petchkasem they have a good old photo of the market (dating from just before the second world war I think).

I too liked the market as it was. It is one of the best town market that I have been to anywhere in Thailand. Hopefully they are just renovating it and giving it better rain cover.

Although is does not make sense to do this in the high season it makes very7 good sense to to it dry the dry season. Unfortunately these two season coincide.
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Dougal · Amateur Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 41 Location: UK

Norseman · Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:05 am Post subject:

caller · Ace Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 1959 Location: Londonistan

Guess · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:33 am Post subject: