Giant tunnels to ease Bangkok flood risk

**StrontiumDog** · 12-11-2010, 01:55 AM

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2010...-30142049.html

Giant tunnels to ease Bangkok flood risk

By Jeerawan Prasomsap
The Nation
Published on November 12, 2010

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paripatra yesterday unveiled a fiveyear plan to invest Bt16 billion to build four giant drainage tunnels to tackle the city’s flood problems.

“They will be like underground highways for floodwater to reach the Chao Phraya River and the sea with the speed of draining four standardsize swimming pools in one second,” said Sukhumbhand.

As Bangkok is located in a bowlshaped area facing the northern runoff of water flowing to the Gulf of Thailand, it is often flooded due to clogged drainage systems.

The city decided to build the four giant tunnels to increase their flood draining capacity from 90 cubic metres per second to 240 cubic metres.

With these four tunnels added to the existing system, the city will drain floodwater faster than it has in the past 25 years especially from repeatedly flooded areas such as Srinakarin and Ramkhamhaeng 2 roads, Sukhumbhand said.

He also affirmed there was no need for land expropriation as the tunnels, each of about fivemetre radius, would be built deep underground.

First, the 5kilometrelong Rama IXRamkhamhaeng tunnel will cost Bt2 billion and should be completed by next January. It will help drain water at 60 cubic meters per second from Klong Lat Phrao and Klong Saen Saeb to the Chao Phraya River. This tunnel was formerly known as Klong San SaebLat Phrao tunnel and work began in 2001. It was the centre of corruption allegations in July 2008 with a Japanese firm ‘s claim it had paid Thai officials Bt125 million for “favours” in connection with the contract.

The second, third and fourth tunnels are due for completion in five years.

The second, the Bt2.5 billion RatchadapisekSutthisan tunnel, will be subject of an eauction next month and work should begin next year. This 6km tunnel, starting from Ratchadapisek and Sutthisan roads to the Chao Phraya River, will drain water from Huai Kwang, Din Daeng, Chatuchak, Phrayathai, Dusit and Bang Sue areas.

Third, the 6metreradius 13.5km Don Muang tunnel will drain from Chatuchak, Lak Si, Bang Khen, Don Muang and some parts of Sai Mai with a capacity 15 times greater than Bangkok’s first drainage tunnel in Sukhumvit, built 25 years ago.

Fourth, the 9.5km Bt4.9 billion Suan Luang Rama IX tunnel (Nong Beaung BonChao Phraya) is in the process of getting Interior Ministry approval, as it is an adjusted version of the previous 3km Nong Beaung BonKlong Prawet tunnel. It would drain water from Prawet, Phra Khanong, Bang Na and Suan Luang at 60cm per second.

**baby maker** · 12-11-2010, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

First, the 5kilometrelong Rama IXRamkhamhaeng tunnel will cost Bt2 billion and should be completed by next January. It will help drain water at 60 cubic meters per second from Klong Lat Phrao and Klong Saen Saeb to the Chao Phraya River. This tunnel was formerly known as Klong San SaebLat Phrao tunnel and work began in 2001. It was the centre of corruption allegations in July 2008 with a Japanese firm ‘s claim it had paid Thai officials Bt125 million for “favours” in connection with the contract.

....thank Buddha....that's buried and forgotten...

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

....fiveyear plan to invest Bt16 billion to build four giant drainage tunnels....

....buried treasure....Long John Silver...among others...will have an interest in this map....

....the ''bonsai boys'' look to have blown it...
....really a great idea....think about the things you could dispose of....
.....old hookers....old Farangs...Mothers in Law...the list is endless....
....a step up in public service....

**Notnow** · 12-11-2010, 04:48 AM

As it is in Bangkok, so it is in Thai politics; always in need of a bigger a**hole.

**StrontiumDog** · 12-11-2010, 09:26 AM

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...es-underground

BMA goes underground

New drainage system will stretch 50km

Published: 12/11/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

City Hall is planning to build four more giant underground tunnels to complete its ambitious and long-term flood prevention plan for Bangkok.

The added tunnels would double the efficiency of the city's water drainage system, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

The new drainage system will be made up of four gigantic tunnels, each with a diameter of five to six metres.

The first tunnel would be completed and enter operation in January, MR Sukhumbhand said.

The tunnel system is planned for completion in five years as part of an integrated and sustainable flood prevention plan for Bangkok.

"We will stop wasting most of our flood prevention budget on ad hoc prevention measures," he said.

"We have spent more and more money to purchase sandbags and water pumps.

"Over the past three years, Bangkok has spent more than 11 billion baht on those short-term flood prevention measures. However, Bangkok is still flooded after heavy rain. It's because those measures are not a long-term answer to the flood problem."

The four new tunnels will increase the total length of drainage tunnels in Bangkok to 50km from 14km.

They will be about three times larger than existing drains which are 1.8m in diameter.

The drainage capacity of the city will increase to 240 cubic metres a second from 95 cubic metres when the new underground network is completed.

Construction of the second tunnel is expected to begin during the first half of next year and the third and fourth in 2012.

The first tunnel, the Rama IX-Ramkhamhaeng tunnel, is 5km long, linking Lat Phrao and Saen Saep canals with the Chao Phraya River. The second, the Ratchadaphisek-Sutthisan tunnel, will be 6.5km long, running from Ratchadaphisek Road to the Chao Phraya River under Sutthisan Road.

The third tunnel, called the Don Muang tunnel, will be 13.5km long. It will run from an area near Don Mueang airport to the Chao Phraya River.

The fourth, the Rama IX Park tunnel, is 9.5km long. It will run from Rama IX Park to the Chao Phraya River.

The new tunnel network will help drain water from Lat Phrao, Wang Thonglang, Bang Kapi, Huai Khwang, Bung Kum, Saphan Sung, Din Daeng, Chatuchak, Phaya Thai, Dusit, Bang Sue, Don Muang, Lak Si, Bang Khen, some parts of Sai Mai, Prawet, Phra Khanong, Bang Na and Suan Luang districts, the governor said.

The project has been supported by the Engineering Institute of Thailand, he said.

Suchatvee Suwansawat, dean of engineering at King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, said building underground drainage tunnels was the best way to prevent flooding in major cities.

Drainage tunnel systems had been constructed in several major cities in other countries to prevent flooding, said Mr Suchatvee, who is a member of the tunnel and underground construction committee of the Engineering Institute of Thailand.

The existing drainage tunnel system has successfully prevented most flooding in central Bangkok.

The cost for the construction of underground drainage tunnels is about 150 million baht a kilometre, he said.

MR Sukhumbhand said 27 communities along the Chao Phraya River had been affected by floods caused by water run-off from the North in recent weeks.

The BMA would help people in affected communities repair their homes with the help of students from schools supervised by the Office of Vocational Education Commission, he said.

**Airportwo** · 12-11-2010, 09:39 AM

AS long as the whole project is visible and above ground should be no problem

**baby maker** · 12-11-2010, 10:55 AM

express way for motorbikes in the dry season ??
....wouldn't put it past the tuktuk crowd...

**The Fresh Prince** · 12-11-2010, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by baby maker

express way for motorbikes in the dry season ?? ....wouldn't put it past the tuktuk crowd...

I think it would make a perfect staging ground for red & yellow protest sites. Much better than the airport or Rajaprasong. They could plan it for next year and threaten to flood the city in rainy season if their demands aren't met.

**Pol the Pot** · 12-11-2010, 02:45 PM

Another 'second' for Bangkok.

Who was it who said that Thailand has always been light years ahead of Malaysia?

**Takeovers** · 12-11-2010, 03:36 PM

I am not an expert on flood prevention but I do wonder.

Those tunnels can drain local rains into the Chao Phraya river. But aren't the worst floods those where the water comes from upstream the Chao Phraya and sometimes coinciding with high tides preventing that water from flowing into the sea?

How could any drainage system avoid those floodings? The only way to avoid those would be retaining areas upstream that keep the water flow in the Chao Phraya on a manageable level during the rainy season.

**Mid** · 12-11-2010, 03:43 PM

never knew water would run uphill

**noelbino** · 12-11-2010, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Mid

never knew water would run uphill

A bit like your internet service: it's slower if your house is on a hill.

**Mid** · 23-11-2010, 04:39 PM

Bangkok prepares for flood in the next 10 years
Nuttaporn Chanchokpong

BANGKOK, 22 November 2010 (NNT) - The Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) has set up a committee to study the laws governing land utilization and construction to cope with flooding in the next 10 years.

The BMC and Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning jointly announced that a committee would be set up in 120 days to study the effects of climate change in order to amend the laws on land utilization and construction in anticipation of future natural disasters.

Surveys conducted by various organizations across the globe have pointed out that Bangkok and its vicinities will face huge flood in the next 10 years, given the sea level in the gulf of Thailand has been rising at the rate of 3 millimeters, and the land subsiding 15 millimeters a year. The BMC said that changes in the laws could control or contain future damage.

thainews.prd.go.th

**harrybarracuda** · 23-11-2010, 04:43 PM

Some people are going to make some big bucks, then someone will realise that 99% of the funds have been spent and only 1% of the work completed.

Five years my arse.

Nostradamus · 23-11-2010, 10:03 PM

They can't build working sewers, what chance large tunnels for a flood relief system?

**The Bold Rodney** · 23-11-2010, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Takeovers

How could any drainage system avoid those floodings?

Forget about the technicalities... this is gonna BE A BIG EARNER for all involved, anyone know what's "whoopeeeeee we're in the money! in Thai?

Originally Posted by Mid

never knew water would run uphill

Everything's f*cking uphill in the land of smiles.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

They can't build working sewers, what chance large tunnels for a flood relief system?

Doesn't matter whether these tunnels work or not that's the least of their problems, it's how to get the dosh out of the system without getting caught at it that's important.

**Tom Sawyer** · 23-11-2010, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

They can't build working sewers, what chance large tunnels for a flood relief system?

The only "relieving" this is meant to do is lighten the BMA and Thai Govt of money that could have been used elsewhere. NOTHING is proposed prior to the corrupt bureaucrats having figured a way for their families to profit - nothing.

**Mid** · 15-02-2011, 06:19 PM

BMA to build three more drainage tunnels

Three more huge drainage tunnels will be built over the next five years to provide a long-term solution to flood problems, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Tuesday.

Sukhumbhand announced the news while presiding over an opening ceremony for the Rama 9-Ramkhamhaeng tunฌnel. It is one of four tunnels being built for a total cost of Bt16 billion.

Other tunnels would be the 6.5km Ratchadaphisek-Sutthisarn tunnel; a 13.5km Don Muang tunnel; and a 9.5km Suan Luang Rama 9 tunnel. Work on the Ratchada tunnel will start later this year, while construction of the latter two will start next year.

nationmultimedia.com

**SiLeakHunt** · 15-02-2011, 06:45 PM

reforresting the catchment basement is the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with flooding..

Cheers

**Rural Surin** · 15-02-2011, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by SiLeakHunt

reforresting the catchment basement is the most environmentally friendly way of dealing with flooding..

Cheers

As the region is a broad natural flood plain that fuses with the natural ebb of tides.

**Mid** · 16-02-2011, 06:41 AM

One down, three to go

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