A section of road to a tourist destination on Doi Angkhang mountain in Chiang Mai will be closed for nine months, starting on Wednesday, for major repairs.
Part of Highway 1249 on the Mae Ngon and Ban Nong Tao route suffered severe damage and subsided during days of heavy rain in October last year, leaving only a single lane usable.
The Department of Highways only recently approved funding to repair the damaged section, between kilometre maker 14+620 and kilometre maker 15+050, Thawat Wattanatham, director of the Chiang Mai Highway Office 3, said.
The road leads to Angkhang Royal Agricultural Station, a popular agricultural research station, which will be off-limits to vehicles during the repair period, from July 25 until April 24, 2019, he said.
The office will put up signs advising travellers to the agricultural research station to use alternative routes, Mr Thawat said.
Motorists from Chiang Mai were advised to use Highway 107 to kilometre marker 80+300 and then turn left at Muang Ngai intersection onto Highway 1178 on the Na Wai-Sinchai-Doi Angkhang route. When they reach kilometre maker 31+200, at Rin Luang intersection, they should turn right to go to the agricultural research station.
Those who travelled from Chiang Rai via Chiang Mai’s Fang district can use three alternative routes. First, they can use Highway 1249 on Ban Nong Khwang and turn to Highway 3001 at kilometre maker 3. Second, they can use Highway 107 to the Ban Tha-Ban Nong Bua-Ban Sinchai-Doi Angkhang route. Third, tourists can use Highway 107 to kilometre marker 117 to go the Phahong road checkpoint-Ban Nong Bua-Ban Sinchai-Doi Angkhang route.
Tourists could seek additional details about the routes to the research station at tel 09-2319-7825 (Mr Thawat); tel 08-1287-8433 (Samai Chanthan, deputy director of the Chiang Mai Highway Office 3), tel 08-9951-6563 (Ms Patthanan Kamakun, head of Chai Prakan highway office), or the Chiang Mai Highway Office at 0-5389-1447 during the office hours.
(Photo taken from @tpdchiangmai Chiang Mai tourist police Facebook page)
(www.royalprojectangkhang.com)
Alternative routes to the royal agriculture research station on Doi Angkhang mountain in Chiang Mai (www.royalprojectangkhang.com)