CHIANG RAI – Thailand’s Deputy Transport Minister Surapetch Boonyamanee visited Chiang Khong district yesterday to address critical traffic hazards on Highway 1020. The primary focus centers on a notorious U-turn located in front of the Boon Rueang Sub-district Municipality. Local officials urge immediate structural fixes to prevent further road accidents on this highly traveled northern route.
The dangerous U-turn sits at kilometer marker 103+160, a location notorious for sharp slopes and heavy traffic volume. Chiang Rai Highway District 2 has already completed initial blueprints to reshape the road layout. Engineers plan to level the steep incline to meet national safety standards, requiring an estimated budget of 30 million baht.
Key Takeaways
- Budget Boost: The Ministry of Transport plans to request 30 million baht for the fiscal year 2028 budget to completely overhaul the steep, accident-prone U-turn on Highway 1020.
- Infrastructure Clashes: Construction of the Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong dual-track railway has inadvertently triggered severe flooding issues and damaged local roads at major intersections.
- School Safety Priority: Officials are fast-tracking plans for a pedestrian flyover at Chiang Khong Wittayakom School to protect students from fast-moving traffic.
Beyond addressing traffic black spots, the minister opened the floor to grievances from local community leaders. Representatives from the Sathan Sub-district Municipality raised urgent alarms regarding recent railway developments. They reported that the massive Den Chai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong dual-track railway project has severely disrupted natural waterways.
As a result, unexpected flash floods now frequently submerge key intersections connecting Chiang Khong to Wiang Kaen district. Furthermore, the heavy construction equipment has left multiple sections of the main highway severely cracked and uneven.
In nearby Khrueng sub-district, similar complaints emerged following the expansion of Highway 1020 into a four-lane system. Local leaders pointed out that the upgraded road lacks adequate drainage infrastructure, leading to chronic flooding during heavy downpours. Residents are demanding both improved water drainage pipes and additional, safer U-turn pockets along the expanded route.
Student Safety and Regional Logistics Visualized
Child safety emerged as another dominant topic during the provincial ministry meeting. The director of Chiang Khong Wittayakom School formally requested a pedestrian bridge directly outside the campus gates. Hundreds of students cross the busy four-lane highway daily, creating a high risk for pedestrian collisions. As a temporary fix, highway workers have installed concrete barriers to slow down oncoming vehicles.
Minister Surapetch also linked these local upgrades to broader economic plans, noting his recent inspection of the Chiang Saen Commercial Port. The Mekong River port has seen container shipping volumes skyrocket by over 300 percent recently.
The upcoming dual-track railway will eventually connect these northern shipping hubs directly to southern Thailand. Consequently, fixing local road hazards like the Boon Rueang U-turn is vital to supporting the nation’s rapidly growing logistics network. The Ministry of Transport aims to secure the extra funding by 2028 to ensure regional growth does not come at the cost of human lives.
