BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittipunt today (August 27) ordered the inspection of all bridges in the capital after another one, crossing Ratchada-Ladprao intersection, was found to be damaged, TV Channel 7 said.
This follows a part of a U-turn bridge at Samut Sakhon section of Rama 2 road falling on top of several cars below killing two persons and injuring many others on July 31 and a part of the Bang Pakong expressway toll plaza’s rooftop collapsing the next day.
Earlier this week a Facebook user, Dukdik Poy, wrote that a slab of concrete at a U-turn bridge next to Wat Phrom Rangsee on Rama 2 road was cracked and about to fall down and hit the cars below. However later that when reporters reached this bridge they found that the 10 cm thick concrete panel, 80 cm long and 30 cm wide, had been removed with construction workers refusing to give any information.
On August 19 some fifth graders and their teachers out on a nature field trip in Nakhon Si Thammarat plunged into a pool after the bridge they were crossing collapsed injuring six of them.
Chadchart, who was accompanied by Deputy Bangkok Governor Mr. Wisanu Sapsomboon, thanked former Democrat Party MP Mr. Watchara Petchthong for alerting them that a part of the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection bridge had broken off and fallen down.
Upon checking it was assumed that a truck or a tall vehicle had hit the bridge because the damaged section is about three metres above ground. The whole bridge has to be inspected to ascertain whether more concrete panels could fall down and hit the cars below, Wisanu said.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Public Works Department is now going to inspect every bridge in the city with motorists urged to be careful as other bridges could also be similarly damaged.
Chadchart also mentioned that there had been many motorcycle accidents at the Bangkok Rapid Transit lane on Rama III-Sathorn–Ratchaphruek route leading to fatalities and injuries.
The contract is now being studied because it is up for renewal next year to ensure greater safety for road users.
CAPTION:
Top: The damaged Ratchada-Ladprao intersection bridge. The Thai headline says, “Ordered inspection of all bridges crossing intersections.” Photo: TV Channel 7
First below: Slabs of concrete that fell from a U-turn bridge at Samut Sakhon section of Rama 2 road damaged several cars and killed two persons on July 31, 2022. Photo: Sanook.com
Second below: Bang Pakong expressway toll plaza’s first booth was closed after part of the roof collapsed on August 1, 2022. Photo: Khajonsak Kaewsai
Third below: The cracked slab of concrete at the U-turn bridge next to Wat Phrom Rangsee on Rama 2 road that was about to fall to the ground on Thursday, August 25, 2022. Photo: Sanook.com
Also read: Toll booth roof collapses after part of U-turn bridge falls on cars below
50 students, teachers plunge into water after bridge collapse
Udom Suk canal bridge collapsed, road closed
