The Prachin Buri provincial highway office will temporarily open the mountainous tunnel connecting Khao Yai national park with Tap Lan national park on Prachin Buri-Nakhon Ratchasima Highway 304 during Songkran festival to facilitate land travel beginning April 10.


Chief of the highway office, Mr Apichart Boonyoung, said over the weekend that construction of the tunnel was about 75 percent completed and it could be opened for temporary use during Songkran festival in order to ease traffic flow on a 30-kilometre stretch of Highway 304 between Na Di district of Prachin Buri and Wang Nam Khiao district of Nakhon Ratchasima.


Construction of the tunnel and an elevated bridge at kilometer markers 192-195 has resulted to the closing of two of the four traffic lanes, leading to heavy traffic congestion which is expected to get worse during Songkran festival, said Mr Apichart.


But before the opening of the tunnel for temporary use on Tuesday (April 10), he said officials would conduct a trial run of the road through the tunnel today until Monday to ensure safety for motorists and travelers.


Tunnel linking Khao Yai with Tap Lan national parks to be open temporarily during Songkran - Thai PBS English News