Dismantling of Ratchayothin bridge may be deferred until year end

BANGKOK: Demolition of Ratchayothin bridge tentatively scheduled to start in April may be postponed until the end of the year if the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Authority opts to build the infrastructure of the Green Line elevated train project simultaneously with the building of a new bridge across the Ratchayothin intersection, said an informed MRTA source.

However, he pointed out that this option carries a disadvantage – that is the construction of the Green Line route from Mor Chit to Saphan Mai and Khu Kot will be delayed by approximately 13 months and this may affect the construction plan of the project which is due to be completed in 2019.

The other option is to go ahead with the plan to dismantle Ratchayothin bridge starting in April and then to build a tunnel under Ratchayothin intersection simultaneously with the construction of the infrastructure.

Prior to the start of the infrastructure construction, all the public utilities in the construction site will be removed first, said the source, adding that the contractor will be required to submit its work plan to remove the utilities to metropolitan police bureau to work out traffic management in the affected area.

Regarding the removal of public utilities in front of Central Lat Phrao shopping mall, the source said MRTA would have to negotiate with the State Railway of Thailand because the latter is the owner of the land plot.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/dismantling-of-ratchayothin-bridge-may-be-deferred-until-yearend

-- Thai PBS 2016-01-10

I live in the area, so it's great to see so much careful planning and forward thinking is being applied.

"said an informed MRTA source."

Yeah, right ;-)

Interesting that the MRTA has to negotiate with private companies regarding the utilities. I would expect that utilities (water, electricity, sewage, etc.) would fall under BMA overall responsibility.

Seems a bit of responsibility realignment wouldn't be amiss.

must be a slow news day...

if they wait awhile longer the bridge will just collapse on its own.

I live in the area, so it's great to see so much careful planning and forward thinking is being applied.

I live in this area too and although the traffic is still pretty bad on Paholyothin, it's much better than I thought it would be. Drivers seem unusually courteous right around soi 35 where the 4 lanes are force merged down to 2 lanes.

I've developed my technique dubbed 'buss surfing' where I use the bold buses and vans to merge left.

....great minds at work.....good luck.....