Rama VIII Bridge
The Rama VIII Bridge (Thai: สะพานพระราม ๘, RTGS: Saphan Phra Ram Paet, pronounced [sā.pʰāːn pʰráʔ rāːm pɛ̀ːt]) is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It was built to alleviate traffic congestion on the nearby Phra Pinklao Bridge. Construction of the bridge took place from 1999 to 2002. The bridge was opened on 7 May 2002 and inaugurated on 20 September, the birth anniversary of the late King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII), after whom it is named. The bridge has an asymmetrical design, with a single pylon in an inverted Y shape on the west bank of the river. Its eighty-four cables are arranged in pairs on the side of the main span and in a single row on the other. The bridge has a main span of 300 metres (980 ft), and was one of the world's largest asymmetrical cable-stayed bridges at the time of its completion.
Rama VIII Bridge สะพานพระราม ๘ | |
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Rama VIII Bridge at night | |
| Coordinates | 13°46′9″N 100°29′48.5″E |
| Carries | Road traffic & pedestrians |
| Crosses | Chao Phraya River |
| Locale | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Maintained by | Bangkok Metropolitan Administration |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed |
| Total length | 475 m (1,558 ft) |
| Height | 160 m (520 ft) |
| Longest span | 300 m (980 ft) |
| Clearance below | 10.4 m (34 ft) |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Buckland & Taylor |
| Constructed by |
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| Fabrication by | BBR Systems |
| Construction start | 1999 |
| Construction end | 2002 |
| Opened | 7 May 2002 |
| Inaugurated | 20 September 2002 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 72,873 |
| Location | |