The order was originally issued on June 7 by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum and authorised under Section 139 (1) (2) of the Land Traffic Act B.E. 2522 (1979).
“Phuket Province is facing traffic problems due to an imbalance between the number of vehicles and the available road space,” the order explained.
“The growth of tourism and tourism-related businesses has led to an increase in the number of public service vehicles, cargo transport, and vehicles serving tourists, which is the main cause of severe traffic congestion,” it continued.
“The Phuket Provincial Police studied the causes of traffic congestion and identified two approaches to solve the problem: long-term and urgent solutions. The congestion is mainly caused by large trucks using the roads, especially during rush hours, which disrupts traffic flow and requires immediate attention.”
Phuket deputy police chief Pol Col Phatsakorn Sonthikun then reiterated the order yesterday (June 28), clarifying that vehicles with 10 wheels or more would be banned from driving, stopping or parking trucks along selected main roads across the island from 6am-9am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays but not on weekends or public holidays.
Pol Col Phatsakorn explained that any heavy vehicles seeking exemption from the ruling are required to request permission in advance and police will then decide within 24 hours.
The order applies to all roads in Phuket under the jurisdiction of the Phuket Highways Office.
While the Phuket Highways Office also administers some roads in lower Phang Nga, including the section of Route 402 from the Khok Kloi Intersection in Phang Nga up to and including the bridges onto the island, the peak-hour ban on trucks will apply only to Phuket Highways Office roads south of the Tha Chat Chai Check Point.
The new regulation aims to lighten traffic congestion on several roads in Phuket that have become saturated with heavy vehicles due to the widespread number of construction projects being undertaken across the island.
Police estimate there are approximately 40,000 vehicles on Phuket’s streets from the airport to Phuket Town alone during the high season and 10,000 during low season. Most use the increasingly-congested Thepkrasattri Rd although an increasing number of vehicles now use back roads which further increases traffic woes for local residents, in addition to causing significant damage to road surfaces.
Police also stated that around 230 heavy trucks enter Phuket from Phang Nga every day during morning and evening rush hours, further complicating issues.
The full list of roads in Phuket under the jurisdiction of the Phuket Highways Office is as follows:
MAIN ROADS
402 Thepkrasattri Rd, from entrance to Wat Mai Khao in Baan Mak Prok to in front of Wat Kosit in Ratsada (27.102km)
4024 Chalermprakriat Ror 9 Rd (the bypass road) and Chao Fa West Rd,, from the Bang Khu Intersection to Kwang Rd (11.65km)
4020 Wichit Songkhram Rd, from in front of Surakul Stadium to the traffic lights in front of Makro (1.642km)
4022 Wichit Songkhram Rd, from Wichit Songkram School to Surakul Stadium Intersection (0.488km)
4026 Entrance to Phuket Airport, from Phuket Airport underpass intersection to Phuket Airport Intersection (4.130km)
4027 From the Heroines Monument, through Pa Khlok, to Muang Mai (19.538km)
4031 Muk Dok Khao - Phuket Airport: The old route to the airport via Muk Dok Khao Intersection (Highway 402 Thepkrasattri Road) to the airport Intersection (Old Line) (13.093km)
LOCAL ROADS
4021 Chao Fa East Rd, from the Dowroong School Interscetion to Chalong Circle (6.473km)
4023 Sakdidet Rd, from the Kwangtung Cemetery to Cape Panwa (8.77km)
4024 Chao Fa West Rd, from Kwang R), Chalong Circle to Rawai Beach (Rawai Pier) (11.07km)
4025 Srisoonthorn Rd, from Heroines Monument to Cherng Talay Police Station (6.95km)
4028 Patak Rd, from Chalong Circle to Karon Circle (8.608km)
4029 Phra Barami Rd (over Patong Hill), from the Pun Tao Kong Shrine on the Kathu side of the hill to Loma Circle at the northern end of Patong Beach (3.236km)
4030 Thalang - Rawai Beach road (the road down the west coast of Phuket), from Rop Koh Rd at the Ban Khian Intersection to the Cherng Talay Police Station Intersection, to Surin Beach to Rawai Pier (40.54km)
4129 Entrance to Ao Makham, Tha Ruea Rd, from the Oil Depot Intersection to Wisit Pier (0.380km)
4233 Kwang Rd, from Chao Fa West Rd to the Baan Nabon Intersection (1.514km).