Rama IX Bridge

About

Rama IX Bridge (RTGS: Saphan Phra Ram Kao, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn pʰráʔ rāːm kâːw]) is a bridge in Bangkok, Thailand over the Chao Phraya River. It connects the Yan Nawa District to Rat Burana District as a part of the Tha Ruea – Dao Khanong Section of Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway. The bridge was named in the honor of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th birthday. The opening date coincided with the king's birthday, with a million people walking over it. It was the first cable-stayed bridge in Thailand and had the second-longest cable-stayed span in the world when it opened in 1987. The original colour scheme, with white pylons and black cables, was replaced with an all yellow scheme representing the king in 2006. Thotsamarachan Bridge is a new eight-lane double-pylon cable-stayed bridge. As it is intended to relieve traffic congestion on the existing Rama IX Bridge, it runs parallel to the latter. It's planned to become a part of the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok Outer Ring Road expressway project. The new bridge's official opening was on 14 December 2024. Afterwards it's planned that the Rama IX bridge be closed for an extensive renovation, which includes a sensor system for added safety.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.