Thai-Belgium Bridge ready to reopen

The Thai-Belgium Bridge on Rama IV Road in Sathorn, which was damaged by fire in late February and partly closed for repairs, is ready to be reopened to motorists tomorrow, according to Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang.

He made the remarks yesterday as he led a team of City Hall executives to inspect the structural integrity of the bridge after repair work was finished.

The fire damaged the 29-year-old bridge’s structure, causing safety concerns and prompting the repairs, worsening traffic jams on congested Rama IV Road.

Pol Lt Gen Aswin said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had hired a contractor to repair the bridge at a cost of 24 million baht.

He added the new improved bridge will now help ease the flow of traffic particularly when the new school term begins next week.

Samran Muangkhiaw, 31, a homeless windscreen washer suspected of causing the fire, was arrested in Pathum Thani on March 23.

He apparently admitted to discarding a lit cigarette on some dried leaves beneath the bridge, police said.

He was seen on surveillance footage walking by the base of the bridge just before the fire erupted. Forensic police concluded the fire on the morning of Feb 28 was started by a cigarette butt.

Pol Gen Aswin said soon after the blaze that all 10 steel beams on both outbound and inbound lanes had to be replaced, adding the road surface also required repairs.

Steel beams taken from demolished flyovers at Ratchayothin and Kasetsart intersections were installed at the ThaiBelgian flyover.

During the process, rubbish was moved from beneath other flyovers and homeless people told to move.