PATTAYA, THAILAND – Pattaya moved ahead with reclaiming public road land at the Soi Phra Prathanimit 2 junction to significantly widen Phra Prathanimit Road and ease traffic.
On-site visit with city officials and engineers
Mayor Poramese Ngampichet inspected the construction site at the junction on 4 March at 4 p.m., accompanied by Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai and the mayor’s secretariat. Representatives from the municipal city planning unit and the engineering department joined the visit and reported on the status of the work.
According to the city, the inspection formed part of a broader push to remove structures that extended into the public roadway. The officials reviewed how the reclaimed area could be used to improve traffic management and safety.
Previous encroachments and demolition
The mayor said that buildings had previously protruded into the public road area at this section and had blocked traffic space. After negotiations with the owner, the affected structures were demolished, and the city had already resurfaced the carriageway in this area with an overlay.
Poramese linked the changes directly to everyday conditions for drivers and residents.
“We are following a firm, strict course in these recoveries so that local residents and commuters benefit from wider, safer streets in their daily lives.”
said Poramese Ngampichet, mayor of Pattaya.
Next steps: power poles and private signs
As an immediate next measure, two power poles were set to be relocated, a step that required cooperation between the city and the Provincial Electricity Authority. In parallel, the administration planned to remove privately installed directional signs at the site.
Officials said the city would first enter into discussions with the affected businesses before any signs were taken down. The goal was to clear the public right of way while maintaining communication with local operators.
Relocation of a spirit house
The area also contained a spirit house (ศาลพระภูมิ), which the city stated would likewise be moved. Only after this relocation and the shift of the power poles could the engineering department begin the main road improvement.
Those improvements were to be carried out using an asphalt concrete overlay. The city framed the sequence of steps as necessary to avoid safety risks and ensure a durable upgrade of the junction.
Up to 14 meters road width for turning traffic
By removing the encroachments, the city expected to regain about 4 meters by 60 meters of usable traffic area. In some sections, this would allow the road to be expanded to between 12 and 14 meters in width.
The additional space was intended above all to make turning movements easier and to improve overall traffic flow at the busy intersection. City officials linked the project to a wider policy of making public infrastructure more efficient and safer while taking a tough line on intrusions into public space.