Krung Thon Bridge

Krung Thon Bridge

สะพานกรุงธน
Krung Thon Bridge; สะพานกรุงธน
Coordinates	13°46′51″N 100°30′11″E / 13.780892°N 100.502951°E
Carries	4 lanes of roadway, pedestrians
Crosses	Chao Phraya River
Locale	Bangkok, Thailand
Official name	Krung Thon Bridge
Other name	Sang Hi Bridge
Preceded by	Rama VI Bridge
Followed by	Rama VIII Bridge
Characteristics
Total length	648.90 m
Longest span	64 m
Clearance below	7.5 m
History
Construction start	31 August 1954
Construction end	Late 1957
Opened	7 March 1958
Location
	Interactive map of Krung Thon Bridge

Krung Thon Bridge (Thai: สะพานกรุงธน, RTGS: Saphan Krung Thon, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn krūŋ tʰōn]) is a bridge over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, in Thailand, connecting the districts Dusit and Bang Phlat. The bridge has 6 spans, and consists of a steel superstructure resting on concrete piers.

History

Construction on the bridge began on August 31, 1954, by the Japanese company Fuji Car Manufacturing Co., Ltd., with Sahawitsawa Kan Yotha Co., Ltd. as its local representative. A cornerstone ceremony was held on June 24, 1955. Construction was completed in late 1957, and the bridge was first opened to traffic on March 7, 1958. It was constructed to relieve traffic on Memorial Bridge, and cost 24,837,500 baht.

Krung Thong Bridge has been known to locals as Sang Hi Bridge (Thai: สะพานซังฮี้, Saphan Sang Hi) since construction began, before it was officially christened, because it extends from Ratchawithi Road, formerly named Sang Hi Road.^[1]

The opening of the bridge in 1958 greatly facilitated travel between the Thonburi and Phra Nakhon (city core) sides, making commuting much easier, and the ferry service from Bang O, on the Thonburi side, to Bang Krabue, on the Phra Nakhon side (which had been in operation since the reign of King Rama V) gradually declined and was eventually discontinued.^[2]

Dimensions

The length of the bridge alone is 366.20 metres, with a 185.50 metre approach on the east side of the river, and a 97.20 metre approach on the west, for a total length of 648.90 metres. At its central point, the bridge is 7.5 metres above mean sea level.

The bridge has four lanes for motor vehicle traffic, two in each direction, with no divider. Pedestrian paths 2.5 metres wide run along either side of the bridge.

At the Thonburi or Bang Phlat side of the bridge, the Krung Thon Bridge Pier (designated N16) serves the Chao Phraya Express Boat. It is accessible via the MRT Blue Line, with Sirindhorn Station located approximately 3.7 kilometres away.

This pier has been temporarily closed since October 10, 2024, due to high water levels, as announced by the Marine Department, the agency responsible for overseeing water transportation.^[3]