May, 2001 - On a lazy, blazing hot Sunday afternoon, the overhead construction provides pleasant shade as Nonthaburi kids swing out over the brownish water of the Chao Phraya River. Barges glide by, each with a watchdog onboard that eyes the children swimming through the boat's wake. Back onshore, a droopy eyed old man sips whiskey as he fishes and children play hopscotch, their voices echoing in the quiet underneath the smooth concrete.

By the end of this year, the Nakhon In Bridge will open. It is near Wat Nakhon In, linking Nonthaburi on the eastern side with Bang Kruay and Bang Yai. Sorry these photos seem overexposed, but that is how it looked that day--as bright as a day in Thailand can be...

Chulachomklao Bridge News


(Photo: Oran Viriyincy)

Crossing the bridge

Chulachomklao Bridge opens - May 13, 2002
Oran Viriyincy writes: The Chulachomklao Bridge at Wat Nakhon In is now open to traffic. The bridge was opened today beginning at the Tiwanon overpass, the bridge and the highway to the Outer Ring Road. At present, the highway ends at the Bang Kruai-Bang Bua Thong Road. There is an overpass, but it is not open yet. The road continues after the intersection and ends with unfinished road constuction.

(Photo: Oran Viriyincy)

The end of the road

There are no walkways on the bridge. I hope this project will be finished soon, so I can get to the Outer Ring Road without using the often congested Rattanathibet Road.


(Photo: Oran Viriyincy)

The view south

The bridge named
Wisarut Bholsithi reports: Saphan Nakhon In Bridge was given the name "Rama V Bridge" by HM The King. It is due to be opened at 5:30 PM on June 21, 2002 by the Crown Prince. Rama V Bridge is a 320-meter double bridge with six traffic lanes. Those who come from Phetkasem Road and Rattanathibet Road can use this bridge to go to Phiboon Songkram Road and Tiwanon Road. This is the 12th bridge across the Chaophraya in the greater Bangkok area and was constructed by the Department of Public Works.

River road opens in April
Six-lane crossing is part of project
Supoj Wancharoen, Bangkok Post, December 2, 2001

A new bridge across the Chao Phraya river in Nonthaburi will be open to traffic in April, says the director-general of the Public Works Department, Sermsak Pongpanich. Mr Sermsak said the bridge across the Chao Phraya river in front of Wat Nakhon-in in Nonthaburi would open on April 18 as work was now 90% done.
The six-lane bridge worth around 1.4 billion baht is part of a road project linking Tiwanont to Phetkasem and Rattanathibet. Under the project approved by cabinet in October 1991, there will be two new roads--the East-West road and North-South road.
The 12km East-West road begins at Tiwanont-Pracha Rat intersection past Phibun Songkhram road, the bridge, and Bang Bua Thong road and leads to the Outer-Ring road. The 18km North-South road starts from Phetkasem road, cuts through Soi Charan Sanitwong 13 and 35 past Bangkok Noi-Nakhon Chaisri road, and ends at Rattanathibet road.
Work on the roads is expected to wrap up in March 2003. The bridge gives people another river crossing and should help with traffic flows.

Nakhon In/Chulachomklao Bridge
Dailynews, February 21, 2002
Summarized by Wisarut Bholsithi
Nakhon In Bridge is 80% done, ready to be opened in April 2002, and the whole project (Nakhon In Bridge and the 6-lane road from Tiwanon Intersection to Bang Bua Thong-Nonthaburi Road) will be done in 2003... The Dept. of Civil Works also asked His Majesty to grant the official name of the bridge as "Chulachomklao Bridge."