After a pilot project to close Silom Road for a weekly night market was deemed a success, city hall plans to open five more “walking streets” in the capital.
The five locations will be created in already popular eating and shopping areas throughout the capital, according to state media. They are Yaowarat Road in Chinatown, Soi Ramkhamhaeng 24, Bang Khun Non Road west of the river, Chaeng Wattana Road to the northwest and under the Rama IX Bridge toward the southwest.
The streets will be closed for traffic on an unspecified weekend evening to allow vendors to take over. Silom Road currently closes on Sunday evenings. It’s hoped regional crafts and food will become featured at the different sites. A start date was not announced.
The “Bangkok Walking Streets” were created to appease street vendors negatively affected by the city’s attempt to increase mobility by cracking down on sidewalk markets. Sidewalk vendors have been banned on some busy roads at certain times.
Photo: NNT
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