Fai Chai tunnel, an underpass along Charan Sanit Wong Road, took 13 years to build. The Bt788-million project, which is being carried out by Kamphaeng Phet Wiwat Construction, began in October 2009, under the tenure of Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra.
However, progress has been slowed due to disagreements about its size, design, and overlap with the MRT Blue Line’s Bang Sue-Tha Phra phase. The city governor, Chadchart Sittupun, said the two-lane tunnel took 13 years to build due to disagreements and talks with the Mass Rapid Transit Authority, which operates the Blue Line.
The contract was revised multiple times as a result of the disagreements. Chadchart stated that after he was elected governor in May, he directed the Public Works Department to expedite the project in order to minimize traffic congestion during rush hours.
The tunnel and an overpass across Na Ranong crossroads in Khlong Toei District, where Ratchadaphisek crosses Rama III, Sunthonkosa, and Na Ranong Roads, were inaugurated on August 1, 2022. Because parts of the decorations have not yet been completed, the initial phase of activation will only be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
