Nine new bridges will be built across the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi between 2017-2031 at a cost of almost 49 billion baht.
The nine bridges are Kiakkai, Rama II, Ratchawong Thadindaeng, Lat Ya-Maha Pruektharam, Chan-Charoen Nakhon, Pathum Thani, Sam Khok, Samut Prakan, and Sanam Binnam.
The bridges, except the Sanam Binnam, will be constructed from 2017 to 2021. The Sanam Binnam bridge will be built from 2022 to 2031.
The Kiakkai bridge, which will connect to a new parliament, is being designed although problems with the exit and entry points of the bridge remain. Certain sections of the bridge require public hearings before construction can go ahead, Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith said.
After the public hearings are conducted with the communities affected by the construction of the bridge, the findings will be forwarded to the Commission for the Management of Land Traffic (CMLT) board for project approval.
The nine bridges will cost 48.9 billion baht to build.
Another bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River called Tha Namnon is under construction. It will be completed next month, the deputy minister said.
The plan to build nine new bridges will be taken up for discussion by the CMLT board soon, Mr Arkhom said.
Meanwhile, Mr Arkom said a traffic alleviation programme will be introduced on Sathon Road starting from next Tuesday.
The road has four large schools and many office buildings and condominiums. Traffic into and out of the road especially during rush hours is very heavy.
Some businesses have provided park and ride services for their employees. Mr Arkom said some of the U-turns on the road will also be closed to prevent traffic clog-ups.
He said on average, traffic on Sathon Road moves at about 17kph.
Traffic jams in Bangkok result from a sharp increase in the number of new vehicles, the deputy transport minister said. In the past 10 years, the number of vehicles registered in Bangkok has doubled from 4.28 million to 8.55 million.
The recent upsurge is generally attributed to the 2012 government policy of the first-car purchase policy. While 1,615 private cars, vans and pickup trucks were registered each day in 2012, the number jumped to 1,954 per day in the following year when many cars were being handed to owners under the first-car scheme.