Nakhon Ratchasima governor affirms road expansion will finish before New Year

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, Dec 24 (TNA) -- The Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichien Chantaranothai reaffirmed that the expansion of the highway number 201, which links Sikhio with Chaiyaphum, into a 4-lane road would be completed ahead of the New Year celebrations. Authorities of Nakhon Ratchasim Highways Office have expedited the cleaning up of the road surface on Highway No 201, the main road forking from Mitraparp road to the Sikhio interchange heading in the direction of Chaiyaphum province and other provinces in the upper northeaster region, in order to ensure that the road would be ready for operations before the New Year celebrations this year starts. A total investment of 700 million baht had been put into the expansion of this road, turning it from a 2-lane to a 4-lane highway. Mr Wichien said that although the contract specified that the maintenance of the road should be completed in March 2017, the Department of Highways has ensured that the construction is seeing fast progress and would be ready for operations by the New Year holidays, helping to provide more conveniences for commuters. Nonetheless, routes leading into Nakhon Ratchasima would be packed with hundred thousands of cars passing though daily, particularly on the Mitraparp road, starting from Pak Chong district on the to Sida district, prompting the governor to order checkpoints to set up along the route to help provide assistance to commuters round-the-clock. (TNA)