Historic Sarasin Bridge Safe from Demolition, despite New Bridge Plans in Phuket

[snoop1130]

 

In a meeting yesterday, Yutthana Phitak, Chief of Phuket Highways Office, ensured Phuket's historic Sarasin Bridge won't face the wrecking ball, despite plans for a new bridge on the island. The announcement followed a surge of online gossip, causing concerns over the potential demolition of the 1951-built bridge.

 

For over seven decades, the Sarasin Bridge has stood as an enduring symbol of Phuket's history. Spanning 660 metres in length, the bridge, financed with an initial budget of 28.77 million baht, was opened to the public on July 7, 1967. Serving as the first link between Phuket and Phang Nga, the structure also carries an unfortunate romantic tale of Kiw Kanchana Sae Ngo, a local teacher, and Ko Dam Sae Tan, a bus driver. This couple, their love deemed forbidden, famously ended their lives by leaping from the bridge in 1978.

 

Last month, during Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s visit to Phuket, plans to construct a new bridge were presented to him, although specific details remain undisclosed. This caused social media to buzz with rumours of the Sarasin Bridge's demolition to allow larger vessels passage.

 

Addressing these concerns, Yutthana firmly clarified that there are no plans, present or future, by the Highways Department to demolish the Sarasin Bridge for any transportation projects. He explained that any such endeavor would necessitate an in-depth study, public hearings, and an environmental impact assessment before presenting any budget proposal.

 

The Highways Department, however, is certainly contemplating a new Sarasin Bridge to ease transportation between Phuket and Phang Nga. But according to Yutthana, this plan remains in the conceptual phase with a proposed budget set for studying the project's technical specifics, expecting to cost around 80 million baht.

 

The chief confirmed that the new bridge's construction will not affect the iconic Sarasin structure, saying, "This will be one of the points that will connect the two areas, but the Sarasin Bridge will not be affected."

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-14

 

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[RobU]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

concerns over the potential demolition of the 1951-built bridge

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

was opened to the public on July 7, 1967.

 

Wow. It took 14 years from building the bridge to opening it. Methinks the Thaiger has once again misreported, as usual and got it's sums wrong, as usual.

[JoePai]

18 minutes ago, RobU said:

Wow. It took 14 years from building the bridge to opening it. Methinks the Thaiger has once again misreported, as usual and got it's sums wrong, as usual.

Sorry but that is correct, the bridge was officially opened July 7th 1967

[RobU]

4 minutes ago, JoePai said:

Sorry but that is correct, the bridge was officially opened July 7th 1967

So it was built in 1953 and wasn't used until 1967? Am I correct?

[natway09]

Another big LIE.

The main reason for the bridge is to allow higher boats to pass underneath