New bridge over Chao Phraya to slash Bangkok traffic jams from second half of 2023
by The Nation
A new bridge over the Chao Phraya River will open next year to improve traffic flow in busy Bangkok, said the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat).
The Rama III-Dao Khanong Expressway bridge will run parallel to the Rama IX cable-stayed bridge built in 1987 and will connect with the Sirat Expressway at the Rama IX-Chaengwattana exit. It is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023.
The new bridge will stretch 450 metres over the river, suspended from 152 cables attached to two giant H-shaped pylons. Dozens of the cables have already been attached as the bridge slowly rises over Bangkok’s River of Kings.
The construction contract awarded to Ch Karnchang Pcl covers the bridge and its eight-lane road running 2 kilometres. Exat said construction work is progressing slightly faster than the scheduled 2023 completion.
The bridge is part of the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok outer ring road project valued at 30 billion baht and covering a distance of 18.7km.
Once the bridge is complete, Exat will complete the project by building a 5km, six-lane elevated road to link the new bridge with the Bang Pakok Hospital-Doa Khanong checkpoint.
The connecting road is expected to be completed in November 2024, although the new bridge will open for public use immediately after it is completed to relieve traffic congestion on Rama IX bridge.
Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk said the whole Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok outer ring road will open in late 2024 free of charge for a certain period, before Exat implements a toll collection system.
Source: https://asianews.network/new-bridge-over-chao-phraya-to-slash-bangkok-traffic-jams-from-next-year/ & The Nation
