The road, which is usually submerged, has reappeared entirely, enabling vehicles to traverse it again as water levels at the dam are only 29 per cent of total capacity.

Sutthiroj Kongkaew, Lam Takong Irrigation and Maintenance Project director, said the re-emergence of the old Road was a normal phenomenon when water levels in the reservoir were low, and a sign that the dry season had begun, so people should plan their water usage carefully.

“Right now the dam has decreased water discharged to 432,000 cubic metres per day for domestic consumption and ecosystem preservation only, and farmers should avoid planting the dry season rice crop, because there will be no irrigation water until the rainy season,” Sutthiroj said.

Mittraphap Road, or Thailand Route 2, was one of the main four highways of the country constructed in 1957. It was the main road that linked the Central region to the Northeast. However, the construction of Lam Takong Dam in 1991 caused a part of the road to be submerged under water.