NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A tunnel under construction on Highway 304 linking Nakhon Ratchasima and Prachin Buri provinces will be temporarily opened from April 10 to relieve traffic congestion during Songkran holidays, a Highway Department official said on Sunday.
Atichart Boonyang, director of the Prachin Buri Highway Office, said a tunnel and an elevated bridge are now being built along Highway 304 between kilometre markers 192-195 in Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Khieo district to link Khao Yai and Thap Lan national parks.
The construction of the elevated bridge has reduced traffic lanes to two from four, causing heavy congestion on the highway leading to the Northeast.
To solve this problem, the tunnel, which is about 75% completed, will be temporarily opened from April 10 to relieve the congestion during the Songkran Festival. The tunnel, being built by Italian-Thai Development Plc, is due to be completed by the end of 2018.
Apart from the construction of the tunnel and the elevated bridge, a section of about 30 kilometres between Prachin Buri's Nadi district and Nakhon Ratchasima's Wang Nam Yen district, is also being repaired. To prevent accidents and facilitate traffic flows, the Highway Department has erected signposts to direct the traffic and ensure safety, Mr Atichart said.
