Chiang Saen - the new bypass to Chiang Rai

[DavidFL]

9 kms downstream from Chiang Saen at Sop Kok they are building a new bypass road R1063 that eventually will link up with the new 4-lane bypass road coming from Chiang Rai

At the moment at the Sop Kok end it looks like this

the road is deserted & in race track condition.

It currently runs for 14.5 kms before it runs into the old R1098 which gives you two options, left to Doi Luang & Chiang Rai, or right to R1016 &Mae Chan then Chiang Rai.

On the new forthcoming GTR GT map it looks like this

note too that at the moment the bridge over the Kok at Sop Kok is being rebuilt & closed, so if you are going Chiang Saen - Chiang Khong you need to take a detour starting / finishing by the Phra That Ngao temple.

 

[DavidFL]

The new Chiang Rai bypass to link up to eventually link up with Chiang Saen is east or R1 in Chiang Rai & starts 1.5 km south of the new bus station on the super highway. Still under construction, with some finished 4-lane dual carriageway alternating with dirt sections, it currently runs for 21 kms up to R1209, the Ban Den - Tha Klao Pluak road. Interestingly enough they are building an underpass right outside the airport, but for all the other road junctions you still have to stop at the traffic lights if the lights are red; & for me after one test run you don't appear to save any time at all. Here is how it is going to look on the new GT map.

note that currently north of the airport, the byapss is generally still dirt.

 

[ianyonok]

The old 2 lane bridge over the Kok river, east of Sob Kham, is being rebuilt into a 4 laner and in fact the old bridge has been completely removed. The present detour on the west side of the river, takes you south off the 1029, past Wat Prathat Pa Ngao and onto the new bypass road, where you can turn left and head east over the new bridge and on to Chiang Khong or right and go west and southwest down to Chiang Rai.

When finished this bypass will be very useful to relieve some of the traffic going north up highway 1 out of Chiang Rai, which is quite congested these days.

 

[ianyonok]

This is / was, the old bridge over the Kok river at Sob Kok on 1129, on 8th August 15.

 

[Deano747]

Any clues on when this will be finished, or open at least if not quite finished. Late this year?

 

[DavidFL]

There's been considerable progress on the new bypass & you can just about ride it all the way through now, although some of it is dirt.
There are two bridges over the Kok, & at least one is ok to ride over. This is the upstream one, closer to Chiang Rai.

After visiting the giant Victoria Lily park I was able to ride another 13 kms on the new bypass R1063 to almost link up with the bypass coming down from Chiang Saen.
There is a missing 3 kms in the middle which looks like it will take awhile to sort out - cutting through or around a hill.
The second bigger Kok river bridge is probably passable, but the approaches & guard rails maybe incomplete, so there are barriers deterring entry.

At the R1 Chiang Rai end, there appears to be about 6-7 kms of dirt left before linking up with R1.
This road will also link up with the north end airport bypass road R5023, so eventually there will be a really fast quick travel time to Chiang Rai. Woo-hoo.

Now what needs to be checked is the new Chiang Khong (Khun Tan) - Phayamengrai - Hua Doi "bypass road."

 

[DavidFL]

March 2019
A brief update I've been up and down the new bypass road a few times now & the progress is coming along very well. On a motorbike you can now ride over both bridges.

The second downstream bridge which previously you could not ride over, but now can by sneaking through & so avoiding the longer detour

There is also a lot more asphalt to & less dirt.
At the Chiang Rai end, you can go straight through to R1 by the Mae Fah Luang University, or carry on down to the airport by pass.

The start at the Me Fah Luang Uni end

Along the way - more asphalt going on fast.

Riding alongside the Kok River

The missing link is still there, but they're working on it

The missing link is where the new bypass intersects R1098 & it would appear as if they are going to build a fly over R1098.

The approach to the upstream bridges you can ride over

I make it 100 kms from Chiang Khong to the Chiang Rai airport & with the speed you can carry on the new bypass & Paradise Road it can be a fast one hour ride from Chiang Khong to the airport.

 

[ianyonok]

Good update David, thank you. Next time I head to C Rai I'll try crossing the northern end bridge heading south. That will save many klms over using the Doi Luang road in the middle.

 

[Heineken]

Great update David, you've given me more roads to explore 555

 

[ianyonok]

Update 21st March 2019;
I rode all the way from the northern end to the airport on the new highway, except for that small missing link in the middle.

The Missling link. Is it going to be a flyover here?

A few photos of that area

 

[DavidFL]

Update 21st March 2019;
I rode all the way from the northern end to the airport on the new highway, except for that small missing link in the middle.

View attachment 129595

The Missling link. Is it going to be a flyover here?
View attachment 129594

A few photos of that area
View attachment 129604 View attachment 129605 View attachment 129606 View attachment 129607 View attachment 129608 View attachment 129609 View attachment 129610

It will be interesting to see the finished product - "the missing link" & the "fly over" whatever it ends up being. I'm intrigued.

 

[DavidFL]

A quick update. the bypass is complete, no dirt, all the bridges & the underpass are operating.
I rode it today coming back from a night in Chiang Rai, sorry no photos because it was wet, but you can ride it all at a good pace.
One section was partially blocked off for cars, but cars were using the whole length of the highway; and what a beauty the whole race track is.

 

[ianyonok]

I'll second that.
Rode it today all the way south to past the airport. Top class job they've done. All the armco barriers, double lay tarmac, painted lines, hazard stripes on the lamp posts and signs etc.
Also good because of the scenery, past the green rice fields and alongside the Kok river in places.
Some partial barriers still there as they complete the finishing touches, but cars were running the full length.

 

[DavidFL]

The missing link looked like this

and ended up like this

and the downstream "2nd" Kok River bridge

Enjoy. It is the quickest way to Chiang Khong from Chiang Rai now, plus you get to ride on Paradise Road into Chiang Khong.

 

[DavidFL]

A hot tip for the new Mon Kra Tang coffee shop on the new bypass.

On R1063, it's on the outward lane heading from Chiang Rai to Chiang Saen & just 16 kms from the Chiang Saen end.

Location: خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

Miss Aon is the captivating waitress ready to serve.

 

[DavidFL]

A new gem of a restaurant & coffee shop on the R1063.
Swana
It always impresses me how these little gems pop up in the middle of the rice paddies & nowhere.

Did a hole in your rice paddy, fill it with coloured water, wack up some thatched huts & serve excellent food & you have a winner to be.

The Swana has been open 7 months only in January 2023, so let's see how they go.

The food is / was excellent & there's no doubt the place will be a jackpot hit with the instagram masses.

Swana · หมู่บ้านสันธาตุใหม่พัฒนา Yonok, Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai, Thailand

★★★★★ · Restaurant

goo.gl

Check it out sometime, don't whizz on by.
The Swana is on the left hand, north side, of R1063 heading towards Chiang Saen.