On June 20, Kritchanon Aiyapanya, Assistant to the Minister of Transport and spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, announced an inspection of the Mahasawat Canal Bridge construction project on Ratchaphruek Road, Nonthaburi Province. He was joined by Saranyasan Weerakulsunthorn, advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister, and members of the Bangkok Council to ensure the project's readiness.
Kritchanon stated that the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) previously opened the inbound lane of the bridge to Bangkok on May 13. This visit was to inspect the outbound section from Taling Chan Subdistrict in Bangkok to Maha Sawat Subdistrict in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi, prior to its full public opening.
The bridge aims to improve traffic flow on Ratchaphruek Road, address chronic bottlenecks, and elevate the quality of life through enhanced transportation infrastructure. This initiative aligns with government policies led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriya Jungrungreangkit.
DRR Director-General Montri Dechasakulsom noted that rapid development in western Nonthaburi, especially along Ratchaphruek Road, has outpaced current traffic capacity, reaching 120,000 vehicles per day during peak hours. The bridge project helps relieve this congestion and supports broader transportation network development goals.
The project spans from km 12+850 to km 15+100, featuring a steel bridge with two lanes in each direction, 8.5 meters wide. The inbound section measures 2.10 km, and the outbound 1.90 km. It includes drainage systems, lighting, and other facilities, with a total budget of 1.181 billion baht. The construction is now complete and open for public use.