Thailand Takes the High Road

Bangkok is in the midst of a major road and bridge expansion period. This article describes some of the most important projects currently underway. One of these projects is a cross river section of a ring road servicing a busy port area. The six lane industrial highway will service the heavy freight traffic from the city's port and connect it to the city and a major motorway coming in from the west of the country. To complete the box road around the port areas, the new section needs to cross the river twice, so two bridges are being built next to each other at a point where the river doubles back on itself. The two bridges are both cable stayed structures. While these bridges are under construction, another project is ongoing nearby: a canal link between the upper and lower river, with large sluice gates to redirect water flows during floods. A small bridge link crosses this waterway to link into the interchange. As these projects head for completion, work is beginning on a large crossing that will be part of a 22.5 km elevated link for Bangkok's ring motorway. Work includes five major interchanges. As with most projects around Bangkok, both the mainly elevated highway and the structures will need considerable deep piling for foundations.