Large sinkhole forces closure of Bangkok bridge road

A large sinkhole has appeared at the Kesakamol Bridge in Bangkok, measuring 10 metres wide, 5 metres long, and 3 metres deep, prompting an urgent closure of the road.

Yesterday, October 6 at around 9.30pm, the road at the Kesakamol Bridge intersection on Nakhon Chaisi Road in Dusit district, Bangkok, collapsed. The incident forced officials to immediately close the area to traffic.

Witnesses reported that cracks began to appear on the road surface around 7pm but vehicles were still able to pass. By 9pm, the road rapidly sank, creating a large hole.

Nipon Sriuang, director of the Canal System Division at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Drainage Office, explained that the collapse occurred at a bridge section under construction as part of the Khlong Prem Prachakorn dam project. This project involves the pouring of concrete to reinforce a 2-kilometre canal embankment.

The project aims to construct a dam along the Khlong Prem Prachakorn canal to prevent flooding and improve water management. This canal runs through several districts in Bangkok, making it a critical infrastructure project for the city.

According to Nipon, the likely cause of the bridge collapse was a broken water pipe under the bridge, which washed away the soil beneath and caused it to flow into the canal. Nipon added that temporary measures are underway.

“We have instructed the team to create a temporary bridge by covering the hole with steel plates and then applying asphalt to level the road surface. This will allow for temporary traffic by tomorrow morning.”

Residents and commuters in the area have been advised to avoid the Kesakamol Bridge until further notice. Traffic has been redirected to nearby routes to manage the flow of vehicles, reported KhaoSod.

In other news, Phuket Town is in a race against time to ensure its roads are smooth and festival-ready before the Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off next week. The city’s top brass is pulling out all the stops, with Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet leading the charge on a series of urgent road resurfacing projects across key streets.