21.12.2007, 17:04
Pattaya Beach Road is to be closed to traffic Friday, Saturday and Sunday, returning to normal on Monday each week in an experiment ordered by the governor of Chonburi to try and resolve the traffic problem and make the beach a more attractive area for pedestrians.
The new measures, which will start on January 1, will see Second Road opened to two-way traffic when Beach Road is closed.
Large tour buses will also be prohibited from dropping off their passengers along Beach Road at this time.
Governor Pracha Taerat announced the new plans at Pattaya City Hall, saying that the activities of the citys 700 baht buses and the tendency of the vehicle rental firms to hire out cars and motorcycles to large numbers of inexperienced and unskilled drivers was making the Beach Road traffic intolerable.
He said that Chonburi Land Traffic Department had been assigned to devise a solution to the problem, and that initially this would be a pilot scheme with a survey being conducted to see if it is viable as a permanent solution.
If this were the case, then Beach Road would become a Walking Street during the weekends.
The new measures, which will start on January 1, will see Second Road opened to two-way traffic when Beach Road is closed.
Large tour buses will also be prohibited from dropping off their passengers along Beach Road at this time.
Governor Pracha Taerat announced the new plans at Pattaya City Hall, saying that the activities of the citys 700 baht buses and the tendency of the vehicle rental firms to hire out cars and motorcycles to large numbers of inexperienced and unskilled drivers was making the Beach Road traffic intolerable.
He said that Chonburi Land Traffic Department had been assigned to devise a solution to the problem, and that initially this would be a pilot scheme with a survey being conducted to see if it is viable as a permanent solution.
If this were the case, then Beach Road would become a Walking Street during the weekends.