S. Ringroad Bridge-Now OPEN!

[wildfk]

Can any one tell me..

Is route 9 from route 3 to route 35 south of Bankok complete yet? i.e. is there a bridge over the river?:confused:

[Wisarut]

Khun wildfk ,

You are refering to the Southern Section of Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Road (Highway 9) whcih connection Highway 34
(Bang na - Bang Pakong Highway) with Highway 35 (Rama II Highway) ... Now, Ch., Karnchang is jsut starting the construction of that section ... Wait until 2006-2007 and you'll see whether the route is DONE.

[The Enforcer!]

One assumes that this was one of Kh. Pavena's three bridges needing urgent completion?

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

Yep, there will be the bridge across Chaophraya there ....

[jerryfin]

The construction of this new bridge is proceeding rapidly. The towers are now about 70 meters high already. The location is 4 kilometers downriver from the Mega Bridge. The construction site is visible on Google Earth.

[ncr]

Thanks for the info. So when is the Southern Outer Ring Road scheduled to be completed?

That ought to be another huge bridge, as it will be the one closest to the river mouth and therefore presumably with the longest span of all Chao Phray bridges (?)

[Wisarut]

Definitely, this bridge is a part of Kanchanaphisek Outering Expressway from bang Bon (Rama 2 Highway) to Bang Plee (Bang Na - Bang Pakong Highway), connecrign thsoe who lvie in Thonburi side and Prha padaeng side with Bang Na - Bang pakong Highway to Suvannabhum Airport ....and Eastern Kanchanaphisek Outering Expressway to Minburi and Wang Noy ;)

[ncr]

...presumably with the longest span of all Chao Phray bridges (?)I measured around in Google Earth, and no, Rama IX has the longest span and will not likely be topped by the new bridge:

Rama IX Bridge - 460m
Industrial Ring Road Northern Bridge - 290m
Industrial Ring Road Southern Bridge - 370m
Southern Outer Ring Road Bridge - 440m

(These are the approximate river widths in the satellite imagery, not the actual bridge spans.)

[jerryfin]

The picture I took this morning of this newest bridge (Ring Road South) with the southern tower of the mega bridge in the same shot, is shown on the
2Bangkok main page now.
Also I just dabbled with G.Earth and found that the river at Prakanong is 500 meters wide and at Samut Prakhan it's 1,000 meters and yet further south, just before the mouth, it's back to 500 meters again.

[The Enforcer!]

Do these bridges have official names yet?

The Enforcer!

[jerryfin]

I took some shots of the outer ring road bridge today from the east bank. Also some shots of the approach road from the east...which is probably a 6-lane highway, elevated for several kilometers. Pictures at:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jerryfin/album?.dir=/9456
The first shot is of flowers at the mega bridge...all the rest are the outer ring road bridge.
The east tower location is:
13d, 38m, 2.54s North
100d, 32m, 27.66s East

[Wisarut]

Jerry,. How Did you go to the Construction Site as well as go to the River to take such AWESOME photos of that Bridge. :p ;) :D :eek: :rolleyes: :) :cool: I have tried to do so but FAILED to find the wayt to that Bridge on Outer Ring :(

[jerryfin]

Wisarut, to get to the tower on the west bank, take aircon yellow bus 20 from Wong Wien Yai along Suksawat road to soi 49..or untill you see the tower on the left. This soi is just past the tower and goes beside a large school. There is a little passenger ferry terminal at the end..where you can rent a boat to get really close to the towers.
Getting to the tower on the east bank presents a different set of challenges! First get to the river in the area of the southern-most tower of the Mega bridge. It is at the west end of Puchao Saming Phrai road that originates near Imperial, Samrong(bus 511 from Sukumvit or bus 102 from Central Rama 3). No BMTA buses travel along Puchao Saming Phrai road..but there is 4-digit designated bus. However, in my opinion, the best and most interesting way to get to the east tower, is to take the river ferry at Satu Phradit pier on Rama 3 (bus 62 from Victory Monument) for Bht4 and go across to Pra Padeng...from where you can walk or take a tricycle across to the bank on the other side of the river...right under the Mega bridge construction site. From there you can take the passanger ferry across the river and look for a taxi...and drive east on Puchao Saming Road for 4.5 kilometers until you find a soi (Sukhaphiban Road) running south-south-west nearly opposite an ESSO station. Drive down there for 1 km, then turn right at the "T" and drive another 800 meters and then left and follow your nose for the remaining few kilometers to the tower construction site.

Or if you have a car, then drive along Rama 3 road and across Bangkok Bridge (lower section) and turn left onto Charoen Nakhon and follow blue bus No6 (bus No82 also goes there from Wong Wien Yai) and it will take you right to the car ferry area to cross the river...again to the west end of Puchao Saming Phrai road.

If you have ThinkNet's MapMagic CD map of Bangkok or Google earth, you will find the east tower at 13.38.02.94N, 100.32.27.62E. From Google Earth you will see quite clearly the road to access the site.

[Wisarut]

Khun Jeff,

Then, I have to take the BMTA Bus No. 20 (Tha Dindaeng - Phrasamut Chedi)
all the way to Suksawat Soi 49 before headign into that Pier at the end of the Soi.

For the case of East Bank, This mean I have to drop Dowat Imperial Samrong before riding that Tin can bus from Samrogn to Phra Padaeng (Poochao Saming Phrai side)

I thought that the ferry from Sadhupradit Pier (terminalfor BMTA Bus No. 62)
will end up ONLY at Lad Luang Pier.... before takign a Motoorcyclke taxi to Pra Padaeng Pier in downtown Prapadaeng to Poochao Saming Phrai side

Sukhaphiban Road? That's the good old Rotfai Sai Kao road ...changed the name after the renovation by Samrong Municiple.

[ncr]

Now that was a thorough description, Jerry! :) (Don't think I'll be going, though.)

[joejoe]

I measured around in Google Earth, and no, Rama IX has the longest span and will not likely be topped by the new bridge:

Rama IX Bridge - 460m
Industrial Ring Road Northern Bridge - 290m
Industrial Ring Road Southern Bridge - 370m
Southern Outer Ring Road Bridge - 440m

(These are the approximate river widths in the satellite imagery, not the actual bridge spans.)

Actually, Span length from center Pylon to Pylon
Rama IX Bridge - 450m
IRR North Bridge - 326m
IRR South Bridge - 398m
Southern Outer Ring Road Bridge - 500m

[ncr]

Oh really? So the Southern Outer Ring Road Bridge will have the longest span of all Chao Phraya bridges.

[Jazzbass]

For your information
The last bridge deck segment at IRR (Poochoa to Rama III) Stay Cable Bridge is scheduled for erection on Monday 27th March, 2006.
The Erection Gantries will then be demobilised and sent to the Southern Outer Bangkok Ring Road (SOBRR) where they will be used for the Deck erection there, later in the year (starting around July 2006)
Jazzbass

[jerryfin]

In the last few days, they removed the tower crane from the east tower despite being only partially complete. Is there a problem with the crane? It was this tower that they had recently started erecting the access roadway adjacent to the tower on the land side. Now, I note there are at least four white cables coming from the top of the partially-finished tower, supporting this section of road...but no cables or roadway on the river side of the tower.
A web page reference of some pictures of this are below. Photo "bridge16August07" is one that shows the cables. Can anyone give more information of the bridge status?
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jerryfin/album/576460762304855580#page1

[jerryfin]

This bridge is quietly moving across the river. They use a different system to that used on the Mega Bridge...ie, they lift up a skeleton of each road section and fill in whilst erected in position...unlike with the Mega Bridge where they completed each road section in the factory and hence were able to make the crossing in "record time" as mentioned on the Discovery Channel program last week.

This reference should allow you to see the photos of progress I took yesterday:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jerryfin/album/576460762387862114

[ncr]

I drove over the Mega Bridge last week and saw from up there that the Outer Ring Road Bridge is almost complete, i.e. they are very close to joining the ends above the river.

[jerryfin]

There are only 3 more segments from the west approach still to be added. The east tower section is already complete. Some pictures I took on the river under the bridge on 28th March at this link:
http://new.photos.yahoo.com/jerryfin/album/576460762395994312

[mascot]

Does anybody know the date of completion, this year or next? I have not seen it for 2 months but the road section on the pra padang side was progressing well. It will be a handy way to the airport when finished.

[The Enforcer!]

It will be a handy way to the airport when finished.

Will it be connected to the Mega-bridge at all as I see on some proposed plans that there is a connecting viaduct?


The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

That Kanchaniphisek Outer Ring Expressway will connect with Industrial Ring road ANYWAY .... but the land exappropriation is NOT done yet so I cannot tell when the constructio nwill start :rolleyes:

[The Enforcer!]

That Kanchaniphisek Outer Ring Expressway will connect with Industrial Ring road ANYWAY .... but the land exappropriation is NOT done yet so I cannot tell when the constructio nwill start :rolleyes:

Thanks

The Enforcer!

[mascot]

Anybody know if the bridge is completed and when it will be opened. It should provide a good way to the airport without going through BKK

[jerryfin]

It seems ready to open...most road signs seem in place...you may have noted a partialy-covered sign on Bangna-Trad road while approaching the outer ring road junction that says "Rama 2". I drove last week down Suksawat to the new bridge and then west to Rama 2 and it appears that the bridge and access is complete but possibly some toll booths still to be installed? I therefore assume the bridge will be opened on December 5 2007 or there abouts.

[Wisarut]

Opening SOuthern Ring Bridge without Tolls in Mid October 2007
Dailynews - 3 October 2007

Expressway Authority said the construction of Bang Plee - Suksawat expressway is almost done, ready for inspection on 8 October and if it passed the test, it will be opened without tolls (temporarily) in mid October 2007.

No local road along this exprtessway due to the flood prone nature of this area.

[The Enforcer!]

mid October 2007.
Any update?

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

Now, the latest news state that the Soft Opening for free of the Southern part of Outer RIng as exprressway will be started on 15 November 2007 ... the official openign will be early 2009 due to the delay on the installation of toll gates whcih will take 16 months to be done.

REF: Prachachat Thurakij - 29 October 2007

[Ahoerstemeier]

Now, the latest news state that the Soft Opening for free of the Southern part of Outer RIng as exprressway will be started on 15 November 2007 ...

Is the ring closed then already? On Thonburi side I know that outer ring runs till Phra Phradaeng directly before the new bridge, but how is the situation on the Paknam side? Can one use the outer ring to go to the new airport now, without having to go through the congested city?

[waerth]

Nope Andy you still get to see beautifull Krungthep Maha Nakhon :)

Waerth

[Wisarut]

Now, the new Bridge on Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Expressway got the Official Name -> "Kanchanaphisek Bridge"

10-wheel Lorries with the weight 21 metric ton or less can use this Kanchanaphisek Bridge.

Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring exprssway will be opeened at 1:19 AM of 15 November 2007

http://www.dailynews.co.th/web/html/popup_news/Default.aspx?Newsid=145561&NewsType=1&Template=1

[The Enforcer!]

Now, the new Bridge on Kanchanaphisek Outer Ring Expressway got the Official Name -> "Kanchanaphisek Bridge"
That only leaves the Mega-Bridge without a real name.

The Enforcer!

[jerryfin]

It was open on time..10:19 am today and at 4pm, I counted 32 vehicles/minute..a mixture of cars, pickups and 10-wheel trucks....mostly travelling west to east.

[Richard Barrow]

That only leaves the Mega-Bridge without a real name.

The Enforcer!

I read recently it is named after H.M. The King's grandson (future King Rama XI). I will try and find source for you.

[Richard Barrow]

It was open on time..10:19 am today and at 4pm, I counted 32 vehicles/minute..a mixture of cars, pickups and 10-wheel trucks....mostly travelling west to east.

This is great news for people living south of Bangkok (in Samut Prakan) and also people landing at the new airport. Should cut the trip time to Hua Hin drastically.

Anyone have any ideas of the length of the outer ring road now? And how long it would take to do the loop?

[GWR]

Thanks Jerry for the following photo, featured frontpage today:
http://www.2bangkok.com

http://www.2bangkok.com/07/bridge.jpg
[Photo: Jerry]

Opening ceremony for Outer Ring Road Bridge - November 15, 2007
Jerry writes: This is a far-away shot at 10:20 this morning - 1 minute after opening.
More on Thai bridges (http://www.2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Bridge/wongwein/wongwein.shtml)

[The Enforcer!]

32 vehicles

That is more than use the Mega-bridge in a day!

The Enforcer!

[Richard Barrow]

Anyone have any ideas of the length of the outer ring road now? And how long it would take to do the loop?

To answer my own questions, It is 168 kms long and it took me just over two hours to drive the complete loop. Traffic was busier than expected on the new southern section. All three lanes were full but I still could maintain a speed of about 100 kph. The Western section was the slowest as we came to a complete stop a few times. The easter section was the best but there were two toll booths at 30 baht each. Two toll booths on the new section, after Bang Na Trad Highway and after Chang Erawan, hadn't been built yet. Presumably they will be built later next year. It was a bit of a costly trip, but at least I can say that I was probably the first person to do the complete loop.

You can read the full report on my blogs (http://www.thai-blogs.com/index.php?blog=5&title=kanchanapisek_outer_ring_road&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1).

[jerryfin]

That's amazingly far..168. It would be useful if they could make an east-west connection just north of Don Meuang.

But as the useage of the lower section has increased greatly after the bridge has opened (ie..Suksawat to Rama 2 section has busied up out of all recognition), has any one noticed any reduction of congestion anywhere else. Presumably there are fewer heavy vehicles on the toll way from Dau Khanong/Klong Toei to Bangna.

[Richard Barrow]

Well, in Samut Prakan, we used to get a really long queue of trucks (endless) going through Paknam after 9 a.m. (they are not allowed into the city earlier than that). A certain number of these will now be on the ringroad. In addition, the Phu Chao road from Sukhumwit to the River used to be one big traffic jam - first for the car ferry and then for the mega bridge. But traffic there has lightened too. However, I am sure any spaces in traffic will soon fill up as people realize these roads are moving faster now.

I just came back from the airport this morning during rush hour. It only took twenty minutes to Paknam. If you live on Rama II then I reckon it wouldn't take longer than 35 minutes. The outer ring road is really proving to be useful. On the other hand, what use was the mega bridge?! Traffic is still light there as not many people are using it. That bridge took months before traffic picked up. On the other hand, the Kanchanapisek Bridge was busy on the first day. I doubt I will use the Mega Bridge again unless I want to go to Rama III.

[Wisarut]

Well, in Samut Prakan, we used to get a really long queue of trucks (endless) going through Paknam after 9 a.m. (they are not allowed into the city earlier than that). A certain number of these will now be on the ringroad. In addition, the Phu Chao road from Sukhumwit to the River used to be one big traffic jam - first for the car ferry and then for the mega bridge. But traffic there has lightened too. However, I am sure any spaces in traffic will soon fill up as people realize these roads are moving faster now.

I just came back from the airport this morning during rush hour. It only took twenty minutes to Paknam. If you live on Rama II then I reckon it wouldn't take longer than 35 minutes. The outer ring road is really proving to be useful. On the other hand, what use was the mega bridge?! Traffic is still light there as not many people are using it. That bridge took months before traffic picked up. On the other hand, the Kanchanapisek Bridge was busy on the first day. I doubt I will use the Mega Bridge again unless I want to go to Rama III.

At least, megabridge is for those who live in Pra Padaeng and Rama III though as the traffic has been diverged to Kanchanaphisek Outer RIng ... :p ;) :D

[jerryfin]

Thank you Richard, that's interesting. Wisarut is spot on! I live on Rama 3 Road just walking distance to the Mega Bridge and the only time I use it is to go to one of the very fine river-side restaurants under the north side of the southern part of the Mega Bridge in Pra Padaeng. There is also a steak house called Steak Diamond on the 2nd road(away from the river where bus 82 turns around). You can have soup, salad and a steak for less than Bht150. There is a Tesco-Lotus Express around the corner to do your shopping after dinner and you can hop back across the river to Rama 3 in 10 minutes or Bht73 in a taxi.
There is a planned connection with the Mega bridge and Kanchanapisek Bridge on the east bank of the river, but seems far off in practice. Even if that were to be finished, it would still be longer to the airport from Rama 3, rather than the Bangna expressway.

[Richard Barrow]

There is a planned connection with the Mega bridge and Kanchanapisek Bridge on the east bank of the river, but seems far off in practice. Even if that were to be finished, it would still be longer to the airport from Rama 3, rather than the Bangna expressway.

I have seen no evidence of this happening yet - though there is already a blanked out signpost which I am presuming is ready for this short cut. If that happens then I might use the bridge again. I miss it already as it is a beautiful bridge. Rama IX is also another bridge I will no longer need to use - though I won't miss the very steep incline up and over which sometimes brought the traffic to a slow crawl due to the heavy trucks.

How long does it take you to go on the express way to Bang Na and then on to the airport? That expressway is pretty slow at times. The second question, when you are on the Bang Na Expressway, do you take the first exit signposted for the airport? In my opinion, this way is slower as you have to go up, around and then back down. The next exit is much faster as it goes up the eastern side of the runway and straight in.

Even if the outer ring road is longer, once they finish this short cut then I would go on the outer ring road if I was you. And it is free at the moment as well!

[The Enforcer!]

what use was the mega bridge?!
I have often asked that question. I assume that it was part of some great Master Traffic Plan the remainder of which has failed to materialise?

The Enforcer!

[Wisarut]

I have seen no evidence of this happening yet - though there is already a blanked out signpost which I am presuming is ready for this short cut. If that happens then I might use the bridge again. I miss it already as it is a beautiful bridge. Rama IX is also another bridge I will no longer need to use - though I won't miss the very steep incline up and over which sometimes brought the traffic to a slow crawl due to the heavy trucks.

How long does it take you to go on the express way to Bang Na and then on to the airport? That expressway is pretty slow at times. The second question, when you are on the Bang Na Expressway, do you take the first exit signposted for the airport? In my opinion, this way is slower as you have to go up, around and then back down. The next exit is much faster as it goes up the eastern side of the runway and straight in.

Even if the outer ring road is longer, once they finish this short cut then I would go on the outer ring road if I was you. And it is free at the moment as well!

Khun Jerry, Khun Rick,

Both Expressway Authority and Highway Depot are starting land exappropriation at the time being .... By the time the oconnection between Industrial Ring and Karnchanaphisek Outer ring is done, you will have to pay a toll though :(

[The Enforcer!]

By the time the oconnection between Industrial Ring and Karnchanaphisek Outer ring is done, you will have to pay a toll though :(
So we are saying about April 2008 eh?

The Enforcer!

[jerryfin]

Even the Mega Bridge has a blanked-off exit at the southern end that suggestest it should connect with the blanked-off exit on the outer ring road just a kilometer or two east of the new bridge.

With regard to going to the new airport, I have stopped using Bangna Trad altogether in favor of the shorter (35kms versus 42 kms) route from Rama 3 going on the expressway to Din Daeng and then down the Rama 9 expressway and into the airport from the north(same route taken by bus 551 from Victory Monument). The city bus 552 uses Bangna Trad second exit up the east side of the runway, but that bus starts from Klong Toei on Rama 4 and serves Sukumvit and Bangna Trad non-expressway passengers as well as airport passengers. But if you want to get to(or away from) the airport quickly by bus from the city centre, then bus 551 is the one for you.