Takhiantia contractor hit with big fines for roadwork delays

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The contractor rebuilding Takhiantia-Wat Sangkapiew Road was fined 40,000 baht a day for failing again to meet a Sept. 10 construction deadline.
The contractor rebuilding Takhiantia-Wat Sangkapiew Road was fined 40,000 baht a day for failing again to meet a Sept. 10 construction deadline.

The contractor rebuilding Takhiantia-Wat Sangkapiew Road was fined 40,000 baht a day for failing again to meet a Sept. 10 construction deadline.

The project to widen and repave 950 meters of the roadway on top of a new sewer system was scheduled for completion on Aug. 11. Banglamung District then extended the deadline to Aug. 26 due to myriad of unseen obstacles and then again to Sept. 10.

But by Sept. 12, sewers remained uncovered from Sangkapiew Temple onwards, with no barriers or warning signs posted. One car, driven by Suwan Prakobtham, chief of Moo 1 village, actually plunged into one of the giant holes. Fortunately, she was unhurt.

Takhiantia Clerk Somchai Sirisombat said daily fines of 40,000 baht will be levied upon the unidentified contractor until the job is done, which was expected be on or around Sept. 20.

Poor planning is behind the long-running delays for the 14.4-million-baht project.

Contractors broke ground in February, only to discover that Provincial Waterworks Authority pipelines laid under the road and had to be moved. Then electrical poles and transformers had to be moved unexpectedly. All the setbacks led to delays that continue to irritate road users.