Thailand‘s incredible £128million Bhumibol bridges link the Port of Bangkok to the Samut Prakan industrial zone south of the city. Three-lane carriageways are carried by two cable-stayed bridges with spans of 398m and 326m.
The combined lengths of both crossings and two elevated approaches amount to 3.1 miles (5km), according to Yee Associates.
A looping, raised interchange between the two bridges connects the north-to-south route with the western approach.
The northern bridge is named Bhumibol 1 and crosses the Chao Phraya River while the southern link is called Bhumibol 2. It connects Phra Pradaeng City and the Samrong Tai area.
They are named after King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Thailand’s ninth monarch from the Chakri dynasty who reigned from 1946 until his death in 2016.
People who said they’ve used the bridge have posted reviews on Tripadvisor with one describing the feat of engineering as a “fantastic masterpiece of mankind”.
Another reviewer hailed the structure as “amazing and grand”, while a third noted the height of the link adds to its appeal.
A fourth, in a review posted in November 2016, wrote: “I love how the connecting roads all snake round to join it. It stretches as far as the eye can see and is quite a sight.”
The bridge opened to traffic on September 20, 2006, before the official opening on December 5 of the same year.
It forms part of the Bangkok Industrial Ring Road, which is a scheme launched by King Bhumibol to help solve the city’s traffic problems.
In 2018, motorbikes were banned from the bridges amid concerns their steep inclines and high winds were putting riders at risk.
A pillion passenger was killed on one of the bridges in 2016 when the person in charge of the motorcycle she was travelling on lost control and she fell into the road, according to the Bangkok Post.
Motorcyclists called for the creation of a cycle lane, but Thailand’s transport ministry argued the route was too dangerous.
