Bhumibol Bridge

The Bhumibol Bridge (Thai: สะพานภูมิพล), also known as the Industrial Ring Road Bridge (Thai: สะพานวงแหวนอุตสาหกรรม) is part of the 13 km long Industrial Ring Road connecting southern Bangkok with Samut Prakan province. The bridge crosses the Chao Phraya River twice, with two striking cable-stayed spans of lengths of 702 m and 582 m supported by two diamond-shaped pylons 173 m and 164 m high. Where the two spans meet, another road rises to join them at a free-flowing interchange suspended 50 metres above the ground.

Bhumibol Bridge

สะพานภูมิพล
Coordinates13°39′55″N 100°32′22″E
CrossesChao Phraya River
LocaleSamut Prakan province, Thailand
Official nameBhumibol Bridge
Other name(s)Industrial Ring Road Bridge, Mega Bridge
Characteristics
DesignCable-stayed bridge
Total length702 metres (2,303 ft) and 582 metres (1,909 ft)
Height50 metres (160 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft)
Longest span326 metres (1,070 ft) and 398 metres (1,306 ft)
History
Opened5 December 2006
Location

The bridge opened for traffic on 20 September 2006, before the official opening date of 5 December 2006. It is part of the Bangkok Industrial Ring Road, a royal scheme initiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej that aimed to solve traffic problems within Bangkok and surrounding areas, especially the industrial area around Khlong Toei Port, southern Bangkok, and Samut Prakan province.

The bridges and Statue of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Lat Pho Park

According to tradition, all bridges over the Chao Phraya in Bangkok are named after a member of the royal family. In October 2009, it was announced that both bridges would be named after King Bhumibol Adulyadej,[1] with the northern bridge officially named "Bhumibol 1 Bridge" and the southern bridge "Bhumibol 2 Bridge".[2] The unofficial name "Mega Bridge" was also widely used.[3]

The bridge was featured on the Discovery Channel.[4] Even though the bridges are the fastest way to drive from Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan Province to Bangkok, motorcycles were banned from using the two Bhumibol bridges from 1 November 2018 due to safety concerns.[5]

Structure
  • Bhumibol Bridge 1 is the northern bridge connecting Yan Nawa District, Bangkok and Phra Pradaeng District.[5] It is a cable-stayed bridge with seven lanes together with two high pillars. The structure is reinforced concrete 50 m above water level.
  • Bhumibol Bridge 2 is the southern bridge. The structure is almost the same as Bhumibol Bridge 1, with seven lanes and two high pillars and built using reinforced concrete 50 m above the level of the river.
View of both bridges
Night shot of the Industrial Ring Road Bridge in May 2019
Panorama sunset
View under both bridges from Lat Pho Park (a statue at right is the statue of King Bhumibol Adulyadej)

See also

References
  1. "Bridges named after His Majesty". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2009-10-24. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  2. "Bhumibol Bridge in Samut Prakan สะพานภูมิพล - Samut Prakan (Paknam) จังหวัดสมุทรปราการ เมืองปากน้ำ". Paknam. 2009-10-21. Archived from the original on 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  3. "Bangkok's Mega-Bridge" Archived November 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine on 2bangkok.com, with many photos of the construction process. The author tentatively claims to have originated the name "mega-bridge".
  4. "Discovery Channel Nederland". Discovery Channel. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  5. Boyle, Gary (1 November 2018). "Police ban motorcycles on Bhumibol bridges". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
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