Bhumibol Bridge

Bhumibol Bridge
Bhumibol Bridge
Official name	Bhumibol Bridge
Other name(s)	Industrial Ring Road Bridge, Mega Bridge
Crosses	Chao Phraya River
Locale	Bangkok, Thailand
Design	Cable-stayed bridge
Total length	702m and 582m
Longest span	326m and 398m
Opened	5 December 2006
Coordinates	13°39′55″N 100°32′22″E / 13.66528°N 100.53944°E / 13.66528; 100.53944

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.

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 aims to solve traffic problems within Bangkok and surrounding areas, especially the industrial area around Khlong Toei Port, Southern Bangkok and Samut Prakan Province.

According to tradition, all the 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 Discovery Channel.^[4]

Panoramic view of both bridges

Contractor: TNNS Jointventure, Taisei, Nishimatsu, NKK, Sino Thai (STECON)
Formwork Service: PERI-HORY Asia and PERI Formwork^[5]

External links

• Map
• Mega Bridge (I) at Structurae
• Mega Bridge (II) at Structurae

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ http://www.paknam.com/latest-news/bhumibol-bridge-in-samut-prakan.html
3. ^ "Bangkok's Mega-Bridge" on 2bangkok.com, with many photos of the construction process. The author tentatively claims to have originated the name 'Mega-Bridge'.
4. ^ [2]
5. ^ PERI - weekly cycle of four 173 m high pylons simultaneously with PERI ACS