A new six-lane bridge across the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi province was unofficially opened to traffic on Friday.
The six-lane, 4.3km Nonthaburi 1 Bridge will help ease traffic in Nonthaburi.
The 4.3-kilometre Nonthaburi 1 Bridge links the western side (Bang Krang and Bang Sri Muang subdistricts) with the eastern part of the province (Suan Yai and Talat Kwan subdistricts) and a new road connecting with Ratchaphruek Road.
Taking 32 months to build, the bridge is the anchor of a project which also comprises building six-lane roads connecting with existing streets.
Transport Minister Prajin Juntong presided over the opening ceremony of the 3.79-billion-baht bridge on Nonthaburi 1 Road at 9am.
The extra-dosed pre-stressed concrete bridge will help reduce by 30% traffic on the existing two Chao Pharaya River bridges in Bangkok's neighbouring province — the Rama V and Somdej Phra Nangklao bridges.
Some 48,000 vehicles are projected to benefit from the bridge each day.
The official opening ceremony with a royally assigned name will take place next year, ACM Prajin said.