Officials hold
another public hearing on the plans to extend Highway 7.
Phasakorn Channgam
CThe Transportation Ministry continued its series of public hearings
into a 35.7 billion baht expansion of Highway 7, which would extend the
motorway to Buraphawithi.
The Oct. 15 session at the Ambassador City Hotel in Najomtien was the latest
in a string of hearings into the project, which already heard opposition
from residents of Sak Ngeaw, which would be sliced in half, and Laem
Chabang, where locals are opposed to even more traffic to the port and
nearby industrial estates.
Ministry Permanent Secretary Gen. Vichien Pojpotsri said the seven year
project would begin in 2013 and help connect Thailand’s biggest port with
the main seaport in Myanmar in preparation for both countries’ entrance into
the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.
“The Ministry of Transport has place a priority on Chonburi’s development by
pushing the transport projects to solve issues and sponsor tourism,” Vichien
said.
Plans call for construction of a six-lane expressway from Buraphawithi
following the route of current Highway 34 with bypasses constructed in
Chonburi, Sriracha and Laem Chabang. The work on what is now considered the
Nongkham-Laem Chabang Highway will allow drivers coming from Nongkham to
turn right into Sriracha and Pattaya-bound drivers from Laem Chabang to use
a new U-turn bridge under the Nongkham-Laem Chabang Highway.
Plans also call for a doubling of the existing four lanes, with toll booths
added at Bangphra, Nongkham and Pong. Construction will be divided in five
phases.
However, the project also runs through sections of Banglamung currently
covered in residential properties and locals in Sak Ngeaw have threatened to
sue to block construction unless changes are made.
Plans call for extending the highway to the busy Maptaput Industrial Estate,
giving logistics companies and exporters a shorter, faster route between
Laem Chabang Port and the capital. As proposed, the highway would run from
Pattaya through the west side of Mabprachan Reservoir, Huay Yai, Sak Ngaew,
the eastern side of the Mabfakthong Reservoir, across Rural Road No. 331,
the eastern side of Khao Chi-Aon, Ban Chang area and terminate at kilometer
marker 192 on Highway 3.
In doing so, Sak Ngeaw would be cut in half, putting half of the current
homes under the overpass.
Public hearings are scheduled to continue.
