A plan to build a 2.95km bridge from Lat Ya intersection-Din Daeng Pier to Hua Lamphong intersection has enraged local residents in Bangkok.
The bridge which would cross the Chao Phraya River will bring environmental problems to the area and increase congestion, local residents claim. Galva Christian Church, a national heritage site, and the historic Wat Maha Phruttharam will also face the indignity of the unsightly bridge running alongside them, the residents said.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Public Works Department hired Team Consulting Engineering and Management Co for THB39 million (US$1.27 million) to study the feasibility of the bridge project.
The firm states it held seminars on May 4th, August 3rd and October 18th to assess the views of local residents. People living in Lat Ya and Maha Phruttharam are adamant that the majority of them were not told about the seminars and that they were only attended by a handful of people, not the 200 people the that firm claim showed up.
A local businesswoman, Sasiwan Niyomwanich who attended one of the seminars is upset local councillors chose to ignore the discussion.
“It’s a pity there were no City Hall representatives present to hear the views from local residents,” Ms Sasiwan told the Bangkok Post.
The four-lane bridge will cost THB2.3 billion (US$75 million) for construction and THB2.3 million (US$74,943) for land expropriation and related works such as environmental impact studies and public relations.
Ruangrit Tangsakul, a fortune teller living in Talad Noi community which is one of areas to be expropriated, said he disagreed with the planned bridge as it will do little to ease traffic congestion on the Bangkok side. The project will also destroy the way of life of residents in his community, which is almost a century old. Other historic communities such as Choduek and Jongsawat would also be expropriated.
Residents from both sides of the water reportedly petitioned the BMA three times protesting against the bridge to no avail.
Watcharin Banpot, director of the Public Works Department’s construction design office, said the bridge project had earlier been scrapped.
However, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTTPP) under the Transport Ministry thought the project might need to be revived and asked the BMA to conduct a feasibility study.
A consultant’s report that about 60 per cent of local residents backed the project caused outcry amongst locals who believe the authorities are concealing the facts.
The BMA plans to build four bridges across the Chao Phraya River. The other three bridge projects are in the Kiakkai area; one linking Ratchawong-Din Daeng piers; and one between Chan and Charoen Nakhon roads.
