Sumitomo Mitsui revealed the progress of project “Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge”

Sumitomo Mitsui revealed the 60% progress of Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge at Nonthaburi 1 in which the company is confident to deliver the project to the Department of Rural Roads in time. The project is featured as the first large bridge in Thailand that has been constructed using concrete and cable strength together.

               Mr. Kavee Kingkate, Project Coordinator of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd (SMC) revealed that ITD-SMCC Joint Venture, comprising of Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited and Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Company Limited, is proceeding with Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge at Nonthaburi 1 road construction project, worth 3,796 million baht. The project owner is Department of Rural Roads, Ministry of Transport.

            Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. proceeds the construction of the extradosed 6-lane Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge with a 460 m span length and a 200 m main span, worth 860 million baht. The rest is preceded by Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited.

Highlights of the bridge are that it is the widest in Thailand with extradosed 6-lane and Thailand’s first bridge with the use of concrete and cable supporting together. Due to its high cost, the cable is used to partially support the bridge which can save the project owner’s budget a lot while maintaining the durable weight support as well. The thickness of the girder is reduced compared to the other bridges, such as Phra Nangklao Bridge, because the cable helps supporting the weight. The total 96 cables are divided into the left and right equally, 48 cables each.

Construction began on May 2, 2012 is currently progressed by 61%. The foundation and pylons with 58 meters sea level height have been completed. The remaining is the bridge ground (excluding the poles). It is expected to deliver to the Department of Rural Roads in time by early December this year.

“The remaining 39% is complex structure that would take longer than foundation because the new innovation is used for the first time in Thailand. The workers may not be familiar and will take some time for adaptation. However, we have well set the work system for each step of execution with the closely monitoring by the expert engineers and team”.

 “The operation at present is faster than the plan by 2%. We are confident that it will be delivered to the project owner in time, meeting the safety requirements and can be opened for actual drives. The time to official opening will be set by the Department of Rural Roads” said Mr. Kavee.

The issue mostly encountered in the project implementation is a labor shortage. However, the company solved it by hiring sub-contractors to supply the labor to meet the demand. The construction workers are mainly Thai at over 50% and the rest are foreign workers (Philippines and Cambodia). The weather conditions cause a little affect on structure works.

 “When completed, the bridge is expected to largely benefits the public by well relieving the traffic from Phra Nangklao Bridge and Rama 5 Bridge. The overall traffic will be better drastically and the public will have more alternative” said Mr. Kavee.

Mr. Kavee added the highlights of Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd. that its parent company in Japan is an expert in the construction of pre-stressed concrete bridges which is the number one in Japan experiencing over 1,000 bridge construction projects. The company team has been experienced and highly expertise in construction of concrete bridge overhanging the river in which the company is the first one in Japan and has brought this innovation to Thailand.

The project portfolio in Thailand includes Phra Pinklao Bridge, Phra Pokklao Bridge, Rama 7 Bridge, Rama 5 Bridge, original Phra Nangklao Bridge, Pathum Thani Bridge, and the latest is this project. The company also invented and is the first company in Thailand that constructs the concrete bridge overhanging to the river.

In addition, the company guarantees its works for 2 years. If there are any damages to project caused by the construction by the company during the warrantee period, the company will fix them with free of charge. However, the company has not received any complaints to fix the major cases, such as bridge. Throughout the past operation, there were only minor cases only.

In the construction, the company will follow the format and requirements of the clients with the closely monitoring by engineers to complete the work as scheduled and to resolve the issues in a timely manner. In addition, the project owner can verify the works at any time.

Chao Phraya River Crossing Bridge at Nonthaburi 1 road and connecting roads have a total length of approximately 4.3 kilometers with 6 lanes. The bridge has been constructed to 1 kilometers length. The project consists of 6 parts of construction: (1) a 6-lane bridge crossing Chao Phraya River with its slopes; (2) 2 at-grade roads to an interchange at Petchaburi road and Ratcha Phruek Road; (3) bridge over intersections on Nonthaburi bypass; (4) 6-lane ground level road; (5) other works such as the lighting system, drainage system, and utilities system; (6) utilities works of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority and TOT.   

The project consists of bridge and connecting road at ground level starting at Nonthaburi 1 Road, close to Sri Boonyanon School. The beginning is on the south of Piboon Songkram Pier 4 and Talad Kwan community turning to the southwest and crossing Chao Phraya River to the west at the south of Aom Non Canel.

The path is in the area between Shrine of the City Pillar and Chalerm Kanjanapisek Park. Then, the path turns to the west cutting through Wat Don Prom – Nonthaburi pier at km 1+300 and parallel to Wat Bot Don Prom – Nonthaburi pier at km 2+600. The project ends at bridge crossing Rachaphruk road.

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