Lane closure at CentralPlaza Lardprao postponed

Road closure for Bangkok's Green Line extension at CentralPlaza Lardprao was postponed from Monday for traffic concerns. (Photo by Krit Promsaka na Sakolnakorn)

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) indefinitely postponed its plan to partially close Phahon Yothin Road in front of CentralPlaza Lardprao shopping centre for Green Line extension due to traffic concerns.

Earlier, the state enterprise announced to close some lanes on Phahon Yothin from the popular shopping centre to Phahon Yothin Soi 21 around the clock from 10pm Monday night to Feb 9, 2019.

Late Monday, it stated that the closure was postponed because it would cause heavy traffic congestion. It would inform the public later of its next decision on the road closure.

Earlier, the state enterprise planned to first close one outbound lane next to the shopping centre from 10pm Monday to Dec 20, 2015. Initial closure would pave the way for the relocation of public utilities before electric railway construction starts in the middle of the road.

The lane closures will allow work on the extension of the Green Line electric railway from Mor Chit area of Bangkok northward to Khu Khot sub-district of Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani province, the MRTA said.

The extended section is 19 kilometres long with 16 new stations. Construction is expected to finish in 2019 and train services are planned to begin in 2020.

The Green Line is the first electric railway of Thailand. Its service started in 1999.