Above: Stations along the proposed second phase extension of the MRT blue line. Photo: Ministry of Transport
Construction of the first tunnel under the Chao Phraya river will soon begin to extend the reach of Bangkok’s subway system.
Part of the second phase of extending the Metropolitan Rapid Transit system’s blue line, the tunnel will run 10 meters underneath the Chao Phraya river for a distance of 300 meters to connect Sanam Chai and Tha Phra.
The tunneling will start next month and is expected to be completed in December.
The entire blue line underground project is expected to be completed by 2017. It will connect the existing line from Bang Sue to Hualamphong to the west and south through Chinatown and across the river into Thonburi. Construction of the Wat Mongkorn and Wang Burapha stations are mostly complete, with eight more to be constructed on the Thonburi side of the river, from Itsaraphap to Lak Song.
Completion of the line is expected to carry another 300,000 passengers daily from Thonburi alone. The blue line extension is expected to result in significant traffic reduction in the Thonburi area.
