Rama IX Bridge สะพานพระราม ๙ | |
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Coordinates | 13°40′55″N 100°31′08″E / 13.682058°N 100.519001°E |
Carries | Chaloem Maha Nakhon Expressway |
Crosses | Chao Phraya River |
Locale | Bangkok, Thailand |
Characteristics | |
Design | cable-stayed |
Total length | 781.20 m |
Width | 33 m |
Height | 87 m |
Longest span | 450 m |
Clearance below | 41 m |
No. of lanes | 6 |
History | |
Construction start | 1 October 1984 |
Opened | 5 December 1987 |
Location | |
Rama IX Bridge (Thai: สะพานพระราม ๙, 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.[1][2][3]
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.[4] It was the first cable-stayed bridge in Thailand[1] and had the second-longest cable-stayed span in the world when it opened in 1987.[5][6]
The original colour scheme, with white pylons and black cables, was replaced with an all yellow scheme representing the king in 2006.[7][8]
A new eight-lane double-pylon cable-stayed bridge paralleling the Rama IX Bridge has been under construction for some time. Part of the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Western Bangkok Outer Ring Road expressway project, it is intended to relieve traffic congestion on the existing single-pylon bridge. The new bridge's official opening will be in early 2024, after which the Rama IX bridge will be closed for an extensive renovation, which includes a sensor system for added safety.[9]