Since its opening last year, the highway has had only one off-ramp at kilometer market 121-122. Drivers are faced with either making dangerous turns across traffic to reach it or drive the wrong way down the on-ramp to get off. Likewise, many lazy drivers simply drive the wrong way up the off-ramp rather than go far down Sukhumvit Road to make a U-turn and access the solitary on-ramp.
The exit to Highway No. 7 at kilometer market 121-122 often has drivers turning in the wrong direction.
The result has been a flurry of accidents and tickets, with no indication the Chonburi Highway Department plans to do anything about it.
Capt. Siriwut Padwichit, a deputy traffic inspector with the Banglamung Police Station, said officers regularly monitor the Highway 7 overpass and give tickets of 400-1,000 baht if they find people making illegal turns or driving against opposing traffic.
“We’ve been asked why we haven’t blocked off some areas for U-turns, but the highway is under the jurisdiction of the Chonburi Department of Highways, so it’s up to them to regulate this,” Siriwut said.
Until proper on- and off-ramps are built, all the police can do is write tickets and ask drivers to follow the law.
