Nightmarish traffic is expected for at least one month in downtown Bangkok as the Thai-Belgian flyover on Rama IV Road has been closed for repairs following a fierce fire which broke out beneath it.
Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the repairs could take 45 days, but he would try to have them completed in no more than a month.
He conceded the long closure of the overpass will exacerbate traffic congestion on Rama IV Road as well as other roads, saying City Hall will work with traffic police to find ways to tackle congestion there.
- Earlier report: Steel beams bent, scorched
Traffic was terrible during the rush hour Tuesday evening as the bridge was closed. Traffic police prohibited motorists from turning right at the intersection.
The fire is another blow to Bangkok drivers. Construction on the Green Line railway has closed four lanes of PhahonYothin Road in northern Bangkok, causing huge jams in that area.
The fire erupted in a space storing rubbish bins underneath the overpass, causing four lanes of the bridge to be shut during morning rush hour.
According to an inspection, City Hall found that steel beams on the outbound lanes were bent after being scorched by the fire for an extended period, causing the traffic surface to subside. The inbound lanes sustained less damage.
Pol Gen Aswin said all 10 of the steel beams on both outbound and inbound lanes have to be replaced, adding the road surface also requires repairs.
Steel beams taken out from demolished flyovers at Ratchayothin and Kasetsart intersections will be installed at the Thai-Belgian flyover instead.
He said Pathumwan district office kept several garbage bins there and the space is fenced off. Following the fire, the office was instructed to move these items out of the area.
Rubbish along with homeless people need to be moved from beneath other flyovers which will be inspected.
"It was unlikely to have been an arson attack, but police must expedite efforts to track down those who were responsible for the fire," the governor said.
Firefighters scour the space under the Thai-Belgian flyover where a fire broke out in the area used to store rubbish bins Tuesday morning. City Hall says it will try to complete the repairs within a month. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)