CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

This article reports progress of the construction of the Rama VIII Bridge at Bangkok, which is now reaching a crucial stage. Slipforming of the 165m reinforced concrete pylon for this asymmetric cable-stayed bridge is due for completion in January 2001. This will then allow the CSCEC-led consortium start critical deck construction work. Work is now continuing in a more relaxed atmosphere, since local objectors were satisfied by changes made to the bridge's design. Initial objections concerned the bridge's locations, and have usually come from people concerned that views of the old part of Bangkok from the river and its opposite bank would be spoiled. There were also land acquisition issues, most of which have now been resolved. The new bridge has an attractive design, its 300m long main span will have a slender deck profile, and it will include traditional Thai architectural features. Completion of the bridge was originally set for October 2000, when construction began in August 1999, but final completion is now expected in September 2001. A free cantilevered method has been chosen for erecting the main span, whose 30 prefabricated steel deck segments, each 10m long and weighing 30t, will be brought by river from a fabrication yard and lifted into place from crane barges.