Bangkok Mulls Skywalk Across Chao Phraya

[webfact]

Bangkok Mulls Skywalk across Chao Phraya

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is considering the construction of a skywalk across the Chao Phraya River from Siriraj Hospital to the Tha Phrachan area.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaibul stated there are plans to construct the nation's first river pedestrian bridge, stretching from the Siriraj Hospital pier on the Thonburi side to the Tha Phrachan pier on the Phra Nakhon side.

He said authorities are currently assessing the feasibility of the project, and are prepared to hold a public hearing soon, adding the process will take at least one year to be completed.

The scheme ensures that no residences or shops will be expropriated and the bridge will not affect ferry operation.

Bangkok authorities are also planning a hanging garden project along the river's bank to mark the 84th birthday of His Majesty the King and to offer more green space for Bangkokians.

The initiative was expected to kick off at the Tha Phrachan area and would stretch over an area of 77 kilometers.

Meanwhile, Deputy Bangkok Governor Doctor Malinee Sukawetchaworakit, presided over a ceremony to launch a training session for local communities' safety at the Trok Kao Mao area in Bangkok Noi District.

The project is aimed to cover 84 areas in Bangkok to celebrate the 84th birthday of His Majesty the King this year.

-- Tan Network 2011-07-25

[webfact]

Bangkok skywalk a waste of money

By The Nation

A lobby group has voiced opposition to construction of the Skywalk - the walkways below the Skytrain - by Bangkok officials, claiming it is a waste of money.

Anti-Global Warming Association head Srisuwan Chanya said yesterday a public forum on the project wouldn't be well rounded, as in the past the city had only surveyed people who wanted to use pedestrian paths.

His group had surveyed residents near the construction |site and affected street vendors and initial results suggested many disagreed with the project.

It would ask city executives |to review the plan or it would file an Administrative Court suit.

Bangkok deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the city would host a public forum with academics, stakeholders, professional groups and those opposed to the Skywalk to give details to help decide whether to go ahead with the project, and prepare moves to tackle risks.

The city would put public opinion boxes at easy-to-access places along the Skywalk route and improve the city website so people can answer questions covering key topics and not aimed at specific answers.

He said the data would be collected properly and assessed truthfully.

The Skywalk was so useful to the public, one was recently opened for use at Ramathibodi Hospital, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-26

[WhizBang]

 I like the concept of the skywalk.  It would beat having to do the vendor shuffle, or dodge motorcycles and other vehicles that decide to use the street level footpaths.  But it would only be useful as long as it was kept 100% clear of vendors.  A vendor cluttered skywalk would be worse than useless.

[hellodolly]

I am missing some thing here The article stated

"The initiative was expected to kick off at the Tha Phrachan area and would stretch over an area of 77 kilometers."

Isn't 77 kilometers kind of a long bridge?

Now if it was to really cover 77 kilometers in Bangkok how would they be able to do that with out And again I quote.

"The scheme ensures that no residences or shops will be expropriated and the bridge will not affect ferry operation."

Am I missing some thing or is this just the normal half witted reporting of the Nation?

[SomTumTiger]

I know these news articles both use the word "Skywalk", but they refer to 2 different projects...

[webfact]

these 2 projects/articles are close related

/Admin

[CNF55]

I am missing some thing here The article stated

"The initiative was expected to kick off at the Tha Phrachan area and would stretch over an area of 77 kilometers."

Isn't 77 kilometers kind of a long bridge?

Now if it was to really cover 77 kilometers in Bangkok how would they be able to do that with out And again I quote.

"The scheme ensures that no residences or shops will be expropriated and the bridge will not affect ferry operation."

Am I missing some thing or is this just the normal half witted reporting of the Nation?

The way I read it, the 77 km refer to the 'hanging garden project' - not the skywalk.

[lovenut]

Aaky walk between MO CHIT bus station and BTS terminal would make more sense.

[scorecard]

Bangkok skywalk a waste of money

By The Nation

A lobby group has voiced opposition to construction of the Skywalk - the walkways below the Skytrain - by Bangkok officials, claiming it is a waste of money.

Anti-Global Warming Association head Srisuwan Chanya said yesterday a public forum on the project wouldn't be well rounded, as in the past the city had only surveyed people who wanted to use pedestrian paths.

His group had surveyed residents near the construction |site and affected street vendors and initial results suggested many disagreed with the project.

It would ask city executives |to review the plan or it would file an Administrative Court suit.

Bangkok deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the city would host a public forum with academics, stakeholders, professional groups and those opposed to the Skywalk to give details to help decide whether to go ahead with the project, and prepare moves to tackle risks.

The city would put public opinion boxes at easy-to-access places along the Skywalk route and improve the city website so people can answer questions covering key topics and not aimed at specific answers.

He said the data would be collected properly and assessed truthfully.

The Skywalk was so useful to the public, one was recently opened for use at Ramathibodi Hospital, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-26

Agree, this is all wrong.

The footpath should be for public usage to walk without having to negotiate hundreds of obstacles. The skywalk is a very very expensive plaster over the problem.

Even more important, the large budget involved should be used for something much higher priority, example, more underground train lines, more BTS lines, so that people can move from one side of the city to the other quickly.

[animatic]

Bangkok skywalk a waste of money

By The Nation

A lobby group has voiced opposition to construction of the Skywalk - the walkways below the Skytrain - by Bangkok officials, claiming it is a waste of money.

Anti-Global Warming Association head Srisuwan Chanya said yesterday a public forum on the project wouldn't be well rounded, as in the past the city had only surveyed people who wanted to use pedestrian paths.

His group had surveyed residents near the construction |site and affected street vendors and initial results suggested many disagreed with the project.

It would ask city executives |to review the plan or it would file an Administrative Court suit.

Bangkok deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the city would host a public forum with academics, stakeholders, professional groups and those opposed to the Skywalk to give details to help decide whether to go ahead with the project, and prepare moves to tackle risks.

The city would put public opinion boxes at easy-to-access places along the Skywalk route and improve the city website so people can answer questions covering key topics and not aimed at specific answers.

He said the data would be collected properly and assessed truthfully.

The Skywalk was so useful to the public, one was recently opened for use at Ramathibodi Hospital, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-26

Agree, this is all wrong.

The footpath should be for public usage to walk without having to negotiate hundreds of obstacles. The skywalk is a very very expensive plaster over the problem.

Even more important, the large budget involved should be used for something much higher priority, example, more underground train lines, more BTS lines, so that people can move from one side of the city to the other quickly.

Agreed also.

The cost of this would be not so far off actually building a train or car bridge, but not near as useful for congested Bangkok traffic. It would also, if left open sided, be a magnet for suicides, and murders. If set with fencing to prevent this, it would become un-esthetic and hardly a beautiful viewpoint. Next is the cost could be used to for much more needed things.

The cost benefits ratio of this idea is heavily skewed to NOT doing it.

Besides that they should be using the skytrain everyone just paid to install.

Edited July 26, 2011 by animatic

[londonthai]

"is considering the construction of a skywalk across the Chao Phraya River from Siriraj Hospital to the Tha Phrachan area"

some cities do have pedestrian bridges, but they are more of a tourist attraction, rather than functional. Chao Phraya is rather a wide river and building a pedestrian bridge over it would be rather costly and not that many people will use it at the scorching heat (unless the walkway will be roofed).

there are regular ferries between those two points, the waiting time is just a few minutes and they cost only 2 baht.

as to hanging garden, it's a better idea, surely will be in interest for tourists and bangkokians

[scorecard]

Bangkok skywalk a waste of money

By The Nation

A lobby group has voiced opposition to construction of the Skywalk - the walkways below the Skytrain - by Bangkok officials, claiming it is a waste of money.

Anti-Global Warming Association head Srisuwan Chanya said yesterday a public forum on the project wouldn't be well rounded, as in the past the city had only surveyed people who wanted to use pedestrian paths.

His group had surveyed residents near the construction |site and affected street vendors and initial results suggested many disagreed with the project.

It would ask city executives |to review the plan or it would file an Administrative Court suit.

Bangkok deputy governor Theerachon Manomaipibul said the city would host a public forum with academics, stakeholders, professional groups and those opposed to the Skywalk to give details to help decide whether to go ahead with the project, and prepare moves to tackle risks.

The city would put public opinion boxes at easy-to-access places along the Skywalk route and improve the city website so people can answer questions covering key topics and not aimed at specific answers.

He said the data would be collected properly and assessed truthfully.

The Skywalk was so useful to the public, one was recently opened for use at Ramathibodi Hospital, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-26

Agree, this is all wrong.

The footpath should be for public usage to walk without having to negotiate hundreds of obstacles. The skywalk is a very very expensive plaster over the problem.

Even more important, the large budget involved should be used for something much higher priority, example, more underground train lines, more BTS lines, so that people can move from one side of the city to the other quickly.

Agreed also.

The cost of this would be not so far off actually building a train or car bridge, but not near as useful for congested Bangkok traffic. It would also, if left open sided, be a magnet for suicides, and murders. If set with fencing to prevent this, it would become un-esthetic and hardly a beautiful viewpoint. Next is the cost could be used to for much more needed things.

The cost benefits ratio of this idea is heavily skewed to NOT doing it.

Besides that they should be using the skytrain everyone just paid to install.

Relieving the traffic congestion (more good quality fast mass transit systems - MRT / BTS) is surely much higher priority then walkways. Plus if mass transit systems are cheap (yes, subsidies) and it reduces tarffic, then there is a gain in terms of less pollution and health improvement.

[jimbeam1]

I wonder if they are going to link it up with the 50km of skywalk alreary proposed?

jb1

[Thai at Heart]

i guess there just ain't any money in fixing pavements these days.

A skywalk across the river wouldn't get used that much for the reasons others mentioned elsewhere. However, a project to fix the pavements in the downtown would be much appreciated. Whoever designed those interlocking bricks and thought they were a good idea to make pavements should be shot. I defy anyone who can find 50 metres of that stuff that is level and free of weeds 6 months after it has been installed, anywhere in the country.

Nice business for the owners of the cement companies though.

[Bagwan]

The very thought of a Thai actually walking the distance from one side of the water to the other is risible. Any distance more than 50 yards mandates the use of wheels. Given the predilection for Thais to ride motor bikes on the pavement , it is fairly easy to predict what will happen should this white elephant be erected. Another case of Thai eyes being bigger than their bellies and brains smaller than peas?

[mania2301]

The government seems to have lots of extra cash lying around for all this useless projects....& yet they wouldn't pay a dime to a certain German company.

[wpcoe]

If they want a pedestrian "skywalk" across the Chao Phraya, wouldn't it be much cheaper to attach it to the BTS tracks from Saphan Taksin and on across the river?