Phra Pinklao Bridge
| Phra Pinklao Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 13°45′43″N 100°29′28″E / 13.76194°N 100.49111°E |
| Carries | 6 lanes of roadway, pedestrians |
| Crosses | Chao Phraya River |
| Locale | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Official name | Phra Pinklao Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 658 m |
| Longest span | 110 m |
| Clearance below | 11.5 m |
| History | |
| Opened | 24 September 1973 |
The Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge (Thai: สะพานสมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้า) is a bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, in Thailand near the Grand Palace linking Rattanakosin Island with Thonburi. It is named after Pinklao, vice-king of Siam, 1851-66. In the project phase, the bridge was referred to as the Tha Chang Wang Na Bridge (Thai: สะพานท่าช้างวังหน้า), however, in June 1973, it was officially named the Somdej Phra Pinklao Bridge.
The Chalerm Sawan 58 Bridge (Thai: สะพานเฉลิมสวรรค์ ๕๘), along Saphan Siaw or "Crescent Bridge" (Thai: สะพานเสี้ยว), had to be dismantled to make way for the new bridge.
Construction of the bridge started on August 4, 1971 and it was opened on 24 September 1973 to traffic by Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn. The bridge was built by the joint company of Obayashi Gumi Ltd. and Sumitomo Construction Co. Ltd under the supervision of Swiss Engineering Project (SEP) who acted as the trustee of the Department of Public and Municipal Works (DPMW).
The main drivers behind the construction of the bridge were:
1) "To alleviate the traffic congestion over and around the Memorial Bridge and to shorten travel time and cut costs"
2) To foster "inter-city relations between Bangkok and Thonburi"
3) To facilitate the development in the vicinity of the bridge
It is feared that the usually heavy traffic crossing Pinklao Bridge could cause structural damage to the old buildings located along Ratchadamnoen Avenue. Some residents expressed their desire in 2010 to have the bridge dismantled mainly due to the air and noise pollution it brings to the old quarter of Bangkok.
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Wikipedia