Gov Nirat visited the Heroines Monument to discuss traffic and lighting concerns with Srisoonthorn Mayor Chalermphon Kerdsap, who described the visit as an introductory briefing rather than a formal inspection.
“The Governor’s visit was brief. He came to pay respects at the monument and asked about ongoing problems, but no detailed solutions or formal plans were discussed,” Mayor Chalermphon said.
The Mayor highlighted two urgent issues: a lack of lighting around the monument due to the preliminary work done ahead of what was at the time planned construction of an underpass under the busy roundabout, plans that have now been abandoned; and persistent congestion caused by traffic entering from Cherng Talay. The outage has left the rear of the monument poorly lit, he said, but the municipality cannot repair it because the area falls under the Highways Department.
Traffic jams in the area continue to worsen, Mayor Chalermphon noted. “Tourists following GPS routes often make sudden U-turns. Even a brief slowdown can create backups stretching all the way to Koh Kaew,” he said.
Preliminary ideas raised included closing U-turns in front of Thai Watsadu to redirect vehicles to a safer turning point near the power plant, or establishing a controlled intersection with a detour via Kajonkiet Thalang School. However, Mayor Chalermphon stressed that these were early suggestions only.
“No formal decisions were made. Detailed plans will be presented later, as the governor told me,” he said.
Gov Nirat later posted on Facebook, emphasising the need for agencies to work together to improve safety and traffic flow.
“Local authorities must work collaboratively to regulate traffic, address hazardous areas, and develop road-management systems to ensure smooth travel, particularly during rush hours and the tourist season,” he wrote. Phuket would continue to pursue traffic improvements “with straightforward, 100% dedication,” he added.
ISLAND WASTE
Gov Nirat has also been briefed on the growing strain at the Phuket Solid Waste Disposal Centre at Saphan Hin, where refuse levels continue to exceed processing capacity and odour complaints persist in nearby communities.
Phuket Town Mayor Supachok La-ongphet met the Governor yesterday (Nov 24) to outline the worsening situation. The facility, managed by Phuket City Municipality, processes around 500 tonnes of waste daily through its incinerator, but a further 700-800 tonnes must be diverted to the landfill.
Only Landfills 4 and 5 remain open, after Landfills 1-3 were closed due to their proximity to housing. Phuket’s total daily waste volume now averages 1,150-1,200 tonnes, rising to 1,300 tonnes during large events or peak tourism periods, Mayor Supachok said.
A second incinerator is currently under construction and expected to be completed in late 2026 or early 2027, adding another 500 tonnes of processing capacity per day.
Mayor Supachok said the persistent odour affecting surrounding communities is caused mainly by organic waste decomposing in the landfill, not the incinerator. Municipal workers spray microorganisms daily over the waste surface to reduce the smell.
Gov Nirat said he would coordinate closely with Phuket City Municipality to identify further measures to improve operations at the site. He acknowledged the burden placed on the municipality, which must manage waste from 19 local administrative bodies and multiple government agencies island-wide.
“We understand the challenges faced by Phuket City Municipality, which must manage waste from across the island within limited resources,” Gov Nirat said. “I will be personally inspecting the situation soon so that we can move toward practical solutions.”