ALTHOUGH the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) worked round the clock to clear debris from the collapse of a beam at a bridge being built near Dao Khanong toll plaza that killed six workers and injured around 24 others enabling one inbound lane to reopen this morning (March 17), police said to avoid it unless necessary, Amarin TV said.
After the beam collapsed in the area of Rama II road Soi 17 to 25 at 1.28 a.m. on Friday (March 15) officials this morning tested reopening one inbound lane of the Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway at this toll plaza, must sooner than the seven-day target they had earlier set.
Exat, the Highways and Rural Roads departments have installed signs advising motorists on other routes they could use to get to the inner city.
However Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawat Wongsanga, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police, said normally over a thousand vehicles use this route during the rush hour. While this one inbound lane is completely opened, it can only be used by four-wheel vehicles and those who do not have to use it are urged to avoid this route.
Road users were urged to allow for extra travel time to get through the traffic congestion as there are lots of cars on this route.
Those who have to use Rama II road past the point where they usually get on the expressway would have to drive straight to the intersection with Suk Sawat road then turn right to get on Bhumibol 1 Bridge. However, the Purple Line electric train route is being built in this area and heavy congestion is expected this morning.
Mr. Surachet Laophulsuk, Exat governor, said during a visit to the accident site that large machines were brought in to clear the debris from the collapsed beam with 70% of the work now complete. The inbound section will likely be fully opened sooner than the seven-day target but the outbound section could only be reopened in a month’s time.
The opening of this one inbound lane is expected to reduce traffic congestion by 30%.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawat Wongsanga and Exat Governor Surachet Laophulsuk at the accident site this morning. Photos: Amarin TV
First and second below: The Dao Khanong toll plaza at dawn today, March 17, 2025. Photos: Amarin TV
Third below: The site where a large beam of an under-construction bridge near Dao Khanong toll plaza collapsed. Photo: Naewna
Also read: Clearing of collapsed under-construction bridge to take a week
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