CHIANG RAI – On Sunday, the Director-General of the Department of Rural Roads, Mr. Montri Dechasakulsom, visited Chiang Rai to follow up on the construction of a new underpass and road improvements at the government office junction along Rural Road 1023.
The project, managed by the Department of Rural Roads Bridge Construction Office, has reached around 26 percent completion. Work is moving towards the expected finish date in 2027.
During the visit, the Director-General and team checked progress to make sure the work met engineering and departmental standards. He listened to updates from staff about the underpass project’s progress, any challenges, and the work plan for the rest of the project.
He offered advice to supervisors and workers, putting a spotlight on safety for staff and residents near the site. He stressed the importance of managing drainage to stop local flooding, as well as organizing traffic so people can move safely through the area during building works.
The Director-General also asked everyone involved to stick to the timeline so the project can quickly bring improved transport and travel options for the community.
The project includes building a four-lane underpass, 425.5 metres long, beneath the junction. There is also work widening the bridge over the Kok River, increasing it to four lanes over a stretch of 410 metres.
Road upgrades at the government office junction on Rural Road 1023 are also included, along with new street lighting and other utilities. The total length covered by these works is 1.635 kilometres.
Once finished, the project aims to fix bottlenecks and cut down congestion at the junction in front of Mae Fah Luang Airport on Rural Road 1023. It will help the airport handle more traffic, make local and regional travel smoother, boost trade and tourism, and support future community growth.
These upgrades will also raise road standards to better connect the area’s transport network.
Department executives joined the Director-General on the site visit. Among them were Yongyut Phengmuang (Deputy Director-General), Likhit Tithithamcharoen (Chief Engineer, Construction Control), and Adithep Teeramarsawanich (Director of Road Construction and Acting Chief Engineer, Road and Bridge Maintenance). Together, they checked on the status and discussed next steps to keep the project on track.
