Collapsed Bridge on Rama II Road: Cleanup and Recovery Efforts Underway
The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) has announced that work to clear the collapsed bridge on Rama II Road is nearing completion, with the inbound expressway lane expected to reopen by Thursday. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, resulted in six fatalities and at least 22 injuries.
Progress in Clearing the Collapsed Bridge
Demolition of the collapsed bridge is now 90% complete, while engineers continue to remove steel structures affected by the collapse. As of Tuesday, 95% of the work at the Dao Khanong-Rama III expressway construction site had been finished.
Exat governor Surachet Laophulsuk confirmed that once all debris is removed, road repairs will begin immediately. Temporary detour lanes have already been opened around the Dao Khanong toll checkpoint to ease traffic congestion.
Structural Damage and Restoration Plans
The outbound Dao Khanong expressway section suffered significant damage, requiring specialized equipment to dismantle the collapsed structures. The steel framework supporting the concrete weight has been removed, and demolition of damaged concrete is nearly finished.
Authorities are prioritizing the reopening of the inbound lane while maintaining strict safety measures during debris removal.
Compensation and Accountability for the Collapse
Italian-Thai Development (ITD), the contractor responsible for the project, has submitted an official report to the Stock Exchange of Thailand regarding the collapsed bridge. The company has expressed deep condolences to the victims and pledged to take full responsibility for compensation and assistance.
ITD is currently working with project owners, engineering consultants, the Council of Engineers, government agencies, and insurance companies to assess the damage. The project is covered by insurance, with policies amounting to 7.35 billion baht for construction, 100 million baht for existing Exat assets, and 100 million baht for third-party liability.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller General’s Department is reviewing contractor evaluation procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
By expediting cleanup and implementing stricter oversight, authorities aim to restore normal traffic flow and ensure the safety of future infrastructure projects.
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