The Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge ( th, สะพานสมเด็จพระปิ่นเกล้า, , ) is a bridge near the

Grand Palace The Grand Palace ( th, พระบรมมหาราชวัง, Royal Institute of Thailand. (2011). ''How to read and how to write.'' (20th Edition). Bangkok: Royal Institute of Thailand. .) is a complex of buildings at the heart of Ban ...

over the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Et ...

in Bangkok, Thailand. It links Rattanakosin Island with Thonburi.

Background

The bridge is named after Pinklao, vice-king of Siam, 1851–1866. In the project phase, the bridge was referred to as the Tha Chang Wang Na Bridge (

Thai Thai or THAI may refer to: * Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia ** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand ** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand *** Thai script *** Thai (Unicode block ...

: สะพานท่าช้างวังหน้า). In June 1973, it was renamed the Somdej Phra Pinklao Bridge in honour of Prince Pinklao.Special supplement of the Bangkok Post/World newspaper - September 24, 1973 The Chalerm Sawan 58 Bridge (

: สะพานเฉลิมสวรรค์ ๕๘) along two pedestrian bridges crossing the northern part of Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (

: คลองคูเมืองเดิม) had to be dismantled to make way for the new bridge and its access road. Construction of the bridge started on 4 August 1971. It was opened to traffic on 24 September 1973 by Prime Minister Thanom Kittikachorn. The bridge was built by the joint company Obayashi Gumi Ltd. and

Sumitomo The is one of the largest Japanese ''keiretsu'', or business groups, founded by Masatomo Sumitomo (1585-1652) around 1615 during the early Edo period. History The Sumitomo Group traces its roots to a bookshop in Kyoto founded circa 1615 by Masa ...

Construction Co. Ltd under the supervision of Swiss Engineering Project (SEP) which acted as trustee for th
Department of Public and Municipal Works
(DPMW).Special supplement of The Nation newspaper - September 24, 1973, p. 12. The main drivers behind the construction of the bridge were: * To alleviate the traffic congestion over and around the Memorial Bridge and to shorten travel time and cut costs * To foster inter-city relations between Bangkok and Thonburi * To facilitate the development in the vicinity of the bridge The Sa-nga Phanit Co., Ltd. (

: บริษัท สง่าพานิช จำกัด) was the main contractor for the Phan Phiphop Lila Bridge (

: สะพานผ่านพิภพลีลา) extension over Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (

: คลองคูเมืองเดิม) to match the new bridge system at a cost of 6,880,000 baht. It is feared that the heavy traffic crossing Pinklao Bridge could cause structural damage to the old buildings on

Ratchadamnoen Avenue Ratchadamnoen Avenue ( th, ถนนราชดำเนิน, , , also spelled Rajdamnern) is a historic road in the Phra Nakhon and Dusit Districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Ratchadamnoen Avenue may be the most politically charged thoroughfare ...

. 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 district of Bangkok. The Cheonggyecheon project in Seoul is given as an example of the positive effects the dismantlement could have.

Notes

The northern part of "Khlong Khu Mueang Doem" was formerly known as "Khlong Rongmai" (). "Khlong Khu Mueang Doem" is also called popularly "Khlong Lord" ().

References

External links

*
YouTube video of the construction of the Phra Pinklao Bridge circa 1972
Road bridges in Bangkok Bridges completed in 1973 Crossings of the Chao Phraya River Unregistered ancient monuments in Bangkok {{Thailand-bridge-struct-stub