Bangkok exodus causes 10km snarl-up in Ayutthaya

Traffic congestion is seen on Phahon Yothin Highway where Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces adjoin, on Thursday. (Photo by Sunthorn Pongpao)

AYUTTHAYA: North and northeast-bound traffic from greater Bangkok was in a virtual standstill for some 10 kilometres near the intersections of Bangkok outer ring roads and Phahon Yothin Highway in Bang Pa-in district on Thursday morning.

Pol Col Sa-nga Teerasaranyanont, deputy commander of Ayutthaya police, said that Bangkok's eastern and western outer ring roads adjoined with the Phahon Yothin Highway and the Asian Highway in Bang Pa-in, forming a bottleneck area for the heavy traffic heading north and northeast from Bangkok.

He said that congestion on Phahon Yothin Highway (Highway 1) stretched in a northerly direction from Thammasat University in Rangsit area of Pathum Thani province to Bang Pa-in district. Northeast-bound traffic flowed slightly more easily after they entering Wang Noi district.

Traffic on Bangkok's eastern and western outer ring roads was jammed for up to 10 kilometres from Bang Pa-in.

North-bound traffic on the Asian Highway was jammed until it reached Phahon Yothin Highway. Congestion eased after passing the centre of Ayutthaya, Pol Col Sa-nga said.

Additional police officers were deployed to manage traffic, the deputy commander said. He recommended that north-bound motorists turn left at Thammasat University in Rangsit and use Highway 347 to connect with the Asian Highway in Bang Pahan district.

Motorists from Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi should drive through Suphan Buri and Chai Nat provinces or use Highway 347, Pol Col Sa-nga said.