Ratchayothin Bridge Closed To Traffic Today Till End Of September

[george]

Ratchayothin Bridge closed to traffic today till end of month

BANGKOK: -- The inbound Ratchayothin bridge is closed to traffic from Tuesday to Sept 15.

The outbound part of the bridge heading to Ratchada and Vibhavadi will be closed to traffic from Sept 16 to 30.

Motorists are advised to use Vibhavadi, Phaholyothin and Lard Prao roads instead.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Phanu Kerdlarphol and Traffic Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Weeraphat Tansrisakul went to the bridge to direct its closure at 5 am.

-- The Nation 2009-09-01

[rkidlad]

Not a problem. Pahon Yothin road from Central Lard Prao to Major Ratchayothin is a pleasure to drive on. I look forward to this.

[Travel2003]

My brother uses that road every morning.

Already a huge pile up in that bottle neck at 6 am.

Yes, Phahonyothin is the one I always use here.

And then into the high way at Din Daeng.

Never use Ratchada.

[george]

Bangkok flyover closure causes snarls

Remain calm amid chaos, says governor

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra is calling on motorists to remain calm after roadworks on the Ratchayothin flyover caused chaos during rush-hour traffic.

The one-month closure of the flyover's inbound section on Ratchadaphisek Road started yesterday.

The flyover crosses Phahon Yothin Road, a traffic hotspot during rush hour.

MR Sukhumbhand said the closure of the inbound lanes heading to the Ratchada-Lat Phrao intersection would lead to severe delays from 7am to 8.30am.

Motorists should be patient as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had to make the repairs for safety reasons after parts of the flyover's surface had eroded, revealing steel plates which became slippery when wet, he said.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Phanu Kerdlarppol said the traffic backup on Phahon Yothin Road yesterday stretched for several kilometres from 7am to 7.30am.

Repairs on the inbound lanes were scheduled to be finished and the flyover reopened to traffic within 15 days.

The outbound lanes would then be closed for repairs for the next 15 days.

Vehicles using the half-closed flyover were given a longer green light to relieve traffic.

But this meant a longer wait for traffic on the intersecting Phahon Yothin Road, Pol Maj Gen Phanu said.

Traffic police would adjust the traffic flow in the area to reduce congestion, the officer said.

Motorists should avoid the area and use the adjacent Vibhavadi Rangsit Road instead, he said.

Maintenance of the flyover started by removing the worn surface, which would later be relaid and increased to a thickness of 25 millimetres from eight millimetres.

City Hall would not repaint the flyover as it would be pulled down when the MRT Green Line was completed.

The project would involve building an underpass at the Ratchayothin intersection.

The city administration plans to close 13 flyovers for maintenance or reconstruction over the next 10 months.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-09-02