Another dual carriageway - Thoeng to Chun

[Heineken]

So as most are aware they have been upgrading hwy # 1021 from Thoeng to Chiang Kham from single lane to dual carriageway, this has been ongoing for a year now and is progressing well imo...........................looks like its well over halfway finished and will be great when done, plus my bikes and car will stay clean, there either covered in dust or clay from the water trucks flooding the road


So a couple of days ago I see them dropping off some big earthwork machinery, I thought to myself that this part of the road is nearly complete, why more machinery ?...............................well I noticed today that they have started forming a dual carriageway which will cross the new upgraded hwy #1021 ?................................so I go and have a look at the Thai sign that has been erected, I can only read parts and the one that stood out is the cost of this project, a whopping 1.2 billion baht


So I google the website from the sign and this is a huge project, starting on the hwy #1020 north of Thoeng and heading south near the Thoeng Prison, so bypassing Thoeng city, and heading south to Chun, saving 20km in distance.


โครงการก่อสร้างถนนสายแยก ทล.1020 – – บ้านกิ่วแก้ว translate to English and it has details of the project

 

[DavidFL]

Good riddance to the trucks off 1021......but what about that rail line now?

I see they have started on 1020 now from Thoeng to Khun Tan.
Soon my Vstrom will be under powered for all these super highway race tracks. Damn.
R118 from Doi Saket to Mae Kachan, is already the R12 of the North & pretty much flat knackers all the way on the wee Vee.
Perhaps that's why R1091 Pong - Chiang Muan is my favourite road for a thrash nowadays.
Bumpy, narrow twisting asphalt that give me an adrenaline rush with all the blind crests & tight decreasing radius corners. What a buzz that road is for me. Gives your suspension a serious work out too. 55.

 

[Heineken]

Good riddance to the trucks off 1021......but what about that rail line now?

I see they have started on 1020 now from Thoeng to Khun Tan.

Most of the 1020 from Thoeng to Khun Tan is single lanes, even though it is quite wide, this new highway to Chun has to join the 1020 there somewhere...............................maybe in this section somewhere ?


And it seems an odd move to upgrade the 1021 from Thoeng to Chiang Kham and onwards to Chun and while this upgrade is yet to be completed they start another road project which will take alot of traffic off the roads they are currently upgrading

 

[Ian Bungy]

Most of the 1020 from Thoeng to Khun Tan is single lanes, even though it is quite wide, this new highway to Chun has to join the 1020 there somewhere...............................maybe in this section somewhere ?


And it seems an odd move to upgrade the 1021 from Thoeng to Chiang Kham and onwards to Chun and while this upgrade is yet to be completed they start another road project which will take alot of traffic off the roads they are currently upgrading

It's all about the money! They have a License to print it till this Government is changed but when will that happen?

 

[DavidFL]

Most of the 1020 from Thoeng to Khun Tan is single lanes, even though it is quite wide, this new highway to Chun has to join the 1020 there somewhere...............................maybe in this section somewhere ?


And it seems an odd move to upgrade the 1021 from Thoeng to Chiang Kham and onwards to Chun and while this upgrade is yet to be completed they start another road project which will take alot of traffic off the roads they are currently upgrading

Another hip pocket wonder & other stories....

 

[Oddvar]

Don't you get it?
CNX is on the shit list.
CNR, on a lesser shit list.

 

[Heineken]

So progress continues, I am still a bit baffled as to whether the intersection of the new road and the 1021 will be traffic lights or will the new road be a flyover ?......................they have dropped off a huge piling machine, this could be for driving pylons for a new bridge over the Lao/Ing river which in the photo of the machines it is just beyond the 4wd which is parked there(left of the photo of my X-Max)...............................btw this intersection is near the turnoff for the Thoeng Prison.


Now most intersections with traffic lights out this way are now made out of concrete, so you would expect them to upgrade to concrete as the road is currently under construction to make it a dual carriageway, and if it is a flyover there would have to be on ramps and off ramps ?...........................none of this appears to be happening


Watch this space is the best answer

 

[DavidFL]

Dare I say it but there's a significant change with the road construction Thoeng - Chiang Kham, with lots more signage, plus bridge activity at the Chiang Kham end.
I was wondering is it a new contractor or they've had a payment, budget release from the govt because they've completed x amount?
Bring it on and get it all the annoying sections completed please. Have the contractors coordinate with each other to actually finish a section properly.

 

[Heineken]

Update March 2022


Slow progression at the moment, it appeared that the pylon drilling machine was broken down or waiting for parts for a few weeks as it sat in the same location without moving for that period of time.........................its back in action again and drilling away. Meanwhile they have made onsite accommodation for the workers, must be planning on staying a while as they seem well built..........................must be hot under those tin roofs


The reinforcing for the concrete is huge, over 12m in length and the reo bar is about 1.5" in diameter, they have made many so looks like there will be alot of pylons.............................it will be interesting to see when the time comes how they get the machinery to the otherside of the Ing River as there are no roads there atm, maybe have to walk the machinery onto site from the nearest road ?

 

[Heineken]

Update 3rd of August 2022


I drove through Chun a few days ago and could not see any development or signs indicating where this new highway will finish, maybe a bit early yet ?


Meanwhile the overpass over the 1021 near the Thoeng Prison road is moving along nicely, aswell as the new bridge over the Ing River, I will get a few photos in the next few days of this section


Another mystery solved today, I wasnt sure where the new road will join the highway 1020 (Thoeng to Chiang Khong), it will join the 1020 basically just south of the Thoeng Licensing Centre, I would say this would have to be a T junction with traffic lights by the way they have boxed out the ground for roadbase.

 

[DavidFL]

Wonder if it is going to be an overhead interchange, "no" traffic lights?
Interesting too that it is the Department of Rural Roads, not the Highways department?

 

[Heineken]

Wonder if it is going to be an overhead interchange, "no" traffic lights?

Not at the #1020 intersection, they haven't allowed enough room to build onramps etc

The truck traffic from Chiang Khong should get an onramp to enter the new highway, as it is the start of the highway.

 

[Heineken]

Another update 6th August 2022


This update is from the section from Highway #1021 through to the road that runs out past the Prawn Farms, it looks like the dual carriageway will join up with the prawn farm road, there is a section completed in roadbase from that road towards the bridge over the Ing River, 1km is ready for bitumen, and then its a further 1km to the river, this has not been cleared yet, only accessible by a single lane gravel track.


Photos from the Prawn farm road..........................................

These next photos are from the southern side of the Ing River, it looks like the piling machine has finished and has been cleaned down to move off site............................terrible conditions to work in at the moment, the clay when wet just turns to slop........................surprising that alot of the workers still wear flip flops (Thongs) on site.

This next lot of photos are from the northern side of the Ing River, basically only a few hundred metres from where highway #1021 runs past...................................the groundwork pylons are down, then a huge reinforced concrete base slab laid, with the above ground pylon reinforcing formed, next stage will be to use the steel formwork ready to lay the concrete........................................I did notice one of the pylons under construction appears to be twice the size of the other pylons, the base and the reinforcing, not sure why, its the one that is about halfway down from the highway to the river ?

 

[Heineken]

Update February 2023


The bridge supports/concrete pylons are nearly completed, I cant work out if the approach to the bridge on the northern side will be a 2 lane bridge or whether they will make it a dual carriageway with 4 lanes, over the actual river appears to be alot wider than the approach ? The southern side of the river appears to have alot more pylons than the northern side, oh well time will tell what happens


They had a major cleanup a few weeks ago I presume to make easy access for trucks to get on and off site, and I noticed today they have started bringing all the bridge making steel and equipment, these big projects certainly employ alot of people

 

[Heineken]

Update February 2023


The bridge supports/concrete pylons are nearly completed, I cant work out if the approach to the bridge on the northern side will be a 2 lane bridge or whether they will make it a dual carriageway with 4 lanes, over the actual river appears to be alot wider than the approach ? The southern side of the river appears to have alot more pylons than the northern side, oh well time will tell what happens

 

[Heineken]

I may of found the answer to my question, these pictures were on the bypass road website...............................................

 

[Heineken]

Update May 2023


Progressing along nicely, the level of the Lao/Ing River has dropped to a very low level which is helping construction, the water level was around the same height as the base for the huge bridge columns at one stage, not now as a car can drive across the river, level is down 5 or 6m imo, currently about 300mm deep


They did stop construction for Songkran, and had about 3 weeks off from memory, on the southside of the river they are making huge concrete beams onsite, which is taking hundreds of concrete truck to make, and then lifting them into position, I presume that these are just support beams and the actual bridge will be constructed ontop of the beams.......................once again no one seems to worry me as I ride the X-max onsite and take a few photos, I always wave and usually get a wave back again.

 

[Oddvar]

I guess the traffic between Thoeng and Chun must be staggering.

 

[Heineken]

I guess the traffic between Thoeng and Chun must be staggering.

Looking at your map Oddvar it clearly shows why the new highway will save about 20min in travel time from Thoeng to Chun, and it get the trucks off hwy #1021 from Chiang Kham to Chun which gets frustrating when stuck behind a few trucks travelling together, with the cars happy to follow at 60kmh and not attempt to overtake, dual carriageways or overtaking lanes usually sort out this issue, just need to get Thai drivers to keep left on an overtaking lane, which they rarely do


BTW it is clear where this new highway begins at the southern end, the intersection will be about 2km south of Chun and the highway is well under construction.......................I have ridden past a few times but have not stopped to take a photo or two as the air quality has been very poor, not ideal for photos.............................Looks like smokey season is nearly over so I will get some photos...................................when completed I should be able to ride to Phayao in about a hour, I usually ride via Phayao when heading down to Chiang Mai, I enjoy riding the hwy #120 from Phayao to Mae Kachan then the hwy #118 to Chiang Mai

 

[DavidFL]

I guess the traffic between Thoeng and Chun must be staggering.

View attachment 151369

Nice one. Thanks Oddvar.

 

[Heineken]

BTW it is clear where this new highway begins at the southern end, the intersection will be about 2km south of Chun and the highway is well under construction.......................I have ridden past a few times but have not stopped to take a photo or two as the air quality has been very poor, not ideal for photos.............................Looks like smokey season is nearly over so I will get some photos.

Update 11/5/2023


Well after a few days or rain and storms the smoky season appears to be behind us, and the weather is alot cooler, about 30deg so I decided to jump on the X-Max and head down to Chun to where this new bypass roads starts or finishes depending which direction you are heading I suppose, anyway the southern end and take a few photos


Very easy to ride onto the new road being made, and again no one seems to have a problem with me out and about, taking a few photos and checking on progress, I managed to ride about 6 or 7km before I came across a culvert being made across the road, and there was no detour so I had to turn around and back track a couple of kilometres to a small road which took me back onto hwy #1021

So once I was back on highway #1021 heading north towards Chiang Kham I rode for about 5km before turning left and heading back out towards the new bypass road, sure enough I easily found it and turned right to get back on the new road, and to my surprise this section of about 8km or so is finished, in asphalt and the road is formed about 2m higher than the farmland it runs through, superb straight road, about 14m wide so I think it will be just one lane in each direction, plus a motorcycle lane which is a good thing imo

After that section the road drops to a lower level and is still under construction, quite a few culverts getting installed to allow water flow during the wet season, some are finished, others not even started yet

So I managed to ride all the way back to Thoeng district, this last photo is 10km south of Thoeng town where the roadworks finished................................for the next 8km past all the prawn farm restaurants there is hardly any roadworks, just a few culverts half constructed, I presume they will straighten this section of road alot to facilitate the new highway.


So except for the section down near Chun where I had to turn back I rode the complete length of the bypass road, some 38km which is quite amazing, I dont head out this way much and alot of work is happening/happened..............................................one thing I noticed is alot of this bypass is very straight, great for overtaking slower vehicles and next to no villages, unlike hwy#1021 from Chiang Kham to Chun which is just continuous villages/houses/businesses and schools etc

 

[Heineken]

Update 3/10/2023


Progress continues on the bridge over the river, interesting to watch how they form a short section of bridge, looks like about 2 or 3m per section and then roll the framework out to do the next section, they have 2 x teams working, one on each side of the river, until they met in the middle.


They have just started the same process on one of the lower lanes that will also cross the river, luckily the river is a lot lower than last year, not that it would make much difference, as previous photos show the footings for the pylons near the river are huge.

 

[DavidFL]

Looking at your map Oddvar it clearly shows why the new highway will save about 20min in travel time from Thoeng to Chun, and it get the trucks off hwy #1021 from Chiang Kham to Chun which gets frustrating when stuck behind a few trucks travelling together, with the cars happy to follow at 60kmh and not attempt to overtake, dual carriageways or overtaking lanes usually sort out this issue, just need to get Thai drivers to keep left on an overtaking lane, which they rarely do


BTW it is clear where this new highway begins at the southern end, the intersection will be about 2km south of Chun and the highway is well under construction.......................I have ridden past a few times but have not stopped to take a photo or two as the air quality has been very poor, not ideal for photos.............................Looks like smokey season is nearly over so I will get some photos...................................when completed I should be able to ride to Phayao in about a hour, I usually ride via Phayao when heading down to Chiang Mai, I enjoy riding the hwy #120 from Phayao to Mae Kachan then the hwy #118 to Chiang Mai

Yes I saw the what I thought must be link off R1021, a few kms west of Chun yesterday, but like you did not stop for a photo, or take a GPS way point. But I noted it was a dead straight road they were cutting through, heading North.

I also agree with you on all the trailer trucks, they come down from FB4 via R1020 & R1021 to Phayao, then R1 to R103, then Phrae & 101....
I noted yesterday, the 4-lane dual carriageway on R1021 heading towards Chiang Kham starts from Huai Ngiu / Saraphi, the R1126 turn off & runs all the way into Chiang Kham. Then from Chiang Kham it is 4-lane dual carriageway all the way to Chiang Khong. The last bit they've been working on from Thoeng north on R1020 to the R1421 is basically all done, all asphalt & you don't ride on an anymore dirt. However, I prefer the old road, it was a bit more enjoyable riding for me, now it is just another boring dual carriageway though the villages. The old road has a lot more harm withy the roadside trees & charming houses. The houses might remain the same, but they're just part of an annex to the concrete now. Does anyone else feel the same?

 

[Heineken]

Update 16th January 2024


Hard to believe that this road construction has been going for over two years now, yep 2 years


On the river side of the highway #1021 they have nearly completed 2 of the bridges over the river, still a 3rd bridge to construct.............................looking very good IMO

The next lot of photos are from the other side of highway #1021, over this side they are using a different method of bridge construction, they lift precast sections up with the giant framework above and lock together, it seems like a quicker method than pouring concrete onsite which they are doing on the other side, presumably because they cannot place segments below as the river is there.

The photo below show one of the construction workers just casually walking across a steel beam, one trip and his life would probably be ended, no safety harness at all

A pet hate of mine, I feel like giving the workers a spirit level to get the light poles straight, very common up here, you would think their supervisor would get up them for leaving the poles like this


This section is just near the start of the bridge construction, looks nearly completed, the markers even down for painting the lines on the road...........................in the next week or so I will go for a ride and see if this road is completed like this all the way to highway #1020 (intersects hwy #1020 next to the Thoeng DLT)

 

[Heineken]

Yes I saw the what I thought must be link off R1021, a few kms west of Chun yesterday, but like you did not stop for a photo, or take a GPS way point. But I noted it was a dead straight road they were cutting through, heading North.

Yes that is the road, from memory 6km from Chun township....................................that is where I started exploring the road construction back in May 2023 on my Xmax, I managed to ride most of that road all the way to Thoeng, lots of section were completed in bitumen, there was some culverts still under construction I had to ride around, I would expect all completed by now