Bid to clear south routes hits snags

Efforts to clear a crucial link to the South have been delayed.

CAST AWAY: A boy uses a net to try to catch fish in the fast flowing floodwater on Soi 69 of Rama II Road in Bang Khunthian district. 

The government hoped to re-open two flood-hit highways as an alternative route to the South in the event that the key route, Rama II Road, is forced to close. However, heavy flooding on the roads has delayed the plan.

Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said Highway 340 (Bang Bua Thong-Suphan Buri) and Highway 9 (Kanchanaphisek) were supposed to reopen yesterday. 

However, flooding had forced officials to push back the reopening of the highways at Bang Yai and Sombat Buri-Noppawong intersections until Tuesday.

If Highway 340 is serviceable, motorists bound for the South would be able to drive from Bang Bua Thong through Bang Yai, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Pathom.

Wanchai Phakluck, Highways Department director-general, said the main obstacle was the flood level at the junction between the two highways, which was still high at 60-80cm. 

Workers are placing concrete pipes and barrels stuffed with sandbags along the highway and pumping water out of it.

But high floodwaters caused concrete pipes to collapse when trucks passed nearby, generating strong waves.

Mr Wanchai said a labour shortage is also a problem as most labourers have been at the task for several days and are now exhausted. Sand and sandbags could only be brought in once a day due to heavy traffic and flooding.

Mr Wanchai said the department had considered using"big bags" large sandbags weighing 2.5 tonnes each  to make a dyke to replace the concrete pipes, but at least 40,000 of the bags would be needed, which was impractical.

Supoj Saplom, Transport Ministry permanent secretary, said the ministry plans to ask the Forest Department and the armed forces to support efforts to return the highways to service.