Manhole lorry accident: BMA orders review of 371 construction sites

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has ordered a review of 371 construction sites after a lorry incident revealed overloading up to 61 tonnes. The BMA is considering the use of a Bridge Weight Motion system to measure vehicle weight, with results expected within two months.

Yesterday at the Bangkok City Hall, the Governor of Bangkok, Chadchart Sittipunt, and Deputy Governor Wisanu Subsompon provided updates on an incident where a ten-wheeled lorry transporting soil fell into an electric cable pit managed by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) in Sukhumvit Soi 64/1. This incident mirrored a similar one in Ratchaprarop.

The investigation suggests two factors were at fault: poor construction quality and the lorry carrying excess weight. According to highway laws, a ten-wheeled lorry can legally carry 25 tonnes. However, the lorry involved in the incident was estimated to be carrying 45 tonnes, a figure awaiting police verification.

For safety measures, the BMA will control the weight of lorries and construction standards, such as the construction of the Purple Line electric train that is currently laying its foundation. The MEA is installing underground cables, and the BMA has a wastewater treatment plant and pipe jacking.

This afternoon, relevant agencies will be invited to discuss these issues, especially temporary structures and manhole covers that are not permanently closed, which have been the subject of numerous public complaints in the Rama 3 road area. As for the weight of lorries, it is the responsibility of the BMA and the police.

Currently, the Highway Act of 1992 stipulates that local highways are under the care of local authorities, including the BMA, which is responsible for setting the weight of lorries according to the announcement of the local road director dated March 31 last year, prohibiting the use of vehicles with a load weight or axle weight exceeding the specified limit. This also includes any vehicles that might cause damage to local roads within the jurisdiction of Bangkok.

Regulations and measures

The weight of lorries should be consistent across all localities. However, enforcement has been lax, and the BMA has never weighed lorries, as most weight stations are located on rural roads. From now on, the BMA will cooperate with police officers. Municipalities have the authority to arrest and hand over to the police for prosecution. Offenders can be sentenced to up to six months in prison or fined up to 10,000 baht.

Chadchart further stated that the BMA is researching the use of AI technology to inspect and measure the weight of lorries through a system called Bridge Weight Motion. From inspections of this system, it was found that the lorry involved in the incident was carrying 61 tonnes in July.

In the future, this system may be used to record lorry data for use as evidence in legal proceedings. The research results are expected within two months. After this, the central budget will be used to purchase before installation across the BMA, approximately ten points.

As a short-term measure, the BMA will cooperate with the Department of Highways to install a mobile weight scale at the bridge in the BMA. After that, we will procure ourselves. Initially this morning, an order was issued to inspect and measure the weight at 371 construction sites that involve excavation. Most of these sites are government projects, such as the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand and the MEA.

Project owners and contractors must operate up to standard. Meanwhile, all 879 MEA cable pit construction sites across the BMA must also be inspected, reported KhaoSod.

Chatchart also said that yesterday he met with Police General Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, to discuss supervision, focusing on two issues. Big Joke said lorries must not be overloaded and must run during specified times.

Department of Highways

“From now on, we must give the public confidence that they can travel safely. Furthermore, if we get another mobile weight scale from the Department of Highways this evening, we will randomly inspect work sites and may catch one to two cases.

“As for the lorry in question, today there will be a soil weight measurement by local road officials. Since yesterday, it was not possible to weigh because the lorry’s wheels were broken and deformed, and the vehicle could not move.

“According to the regulations of the Department of Highways, the vehicle must be able to move and run up on the weighing machine, so the wheels must be replaced first. Once weighed, local road officials will record and send data along with the driver and vehicle to the police for legal proceedings.

“Regarding the green star sticker with the letter B affixed to the front of the vehicle, it is the authority of the inspectors, as the BMA has only the authority under the Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Dwelling Act, 1992 to inspect whether a cover or soil is falling or not.

“In the case suspected on social media that the district office may be involved in accepting bribes, it is unlikely as the BMA does not have the power to weigh and arrest. However, an order has been issued to the district office to inspect the construction sites in the area. If overloaded lorries are found coming from the site, they could be fined up to the point of ordering a construction halt.”

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