{{Short description|Bridge in Bangkok, Thailand}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name = Bhumibol Bridge |native_name = {{Native name|th|สะพานภูมิพล|paren=omit}} |image = Bhumibol Bridge on Rama 3 sight (10440744735).jpg |caption = |official_name = Bhumibol Bridge |also_known_as = Industrial Ring Road Bridge, Mega Bridge |carries = |crosses = Chao Phraya River |locale = Bang Ya Phraek, Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan province, Thailand |design = Cable-stayed bridge |mainspan = {{convert|326|m}} and {{convert|398|m}} |length = {{convert|702|m}} and {{convert|582|m}} |height = {{convert|50|m}} and {{convert|50|m}} |width = |clearance = |below = |traffic = |open = 5 December 2006 |closed = |toll = |coordinates = {{coord|13|39|55|N|100|32|22|E|region:TH_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} }}
The '''Bhumibol Bridge''' ({{langx|th|สะพานภูมิพล}}, {{RTGS|Saphan Phumiphon}}), also known as the '''Industrial Ring Road Bridge''' ({{langx|th|สะพานวงแหวนอุตสาหกรรม}}, {{RTGS|Saphan Wongwaen Utsahakam}}) is a road bridge in southern Bangkok, Thailand. It is part of the {{convert|13|km|abbr=on}} long Industrial Ring Road connecting southern Bangkok with Samut Prakan province. The bridge crosses the Chao Phraya River twice, with two striking cable-stayed spans of lengths of {{convert|702|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|582|m|abbr=on}} supported by two diamond-shaped pylons {{convert|173|m|abbr=on}} and {{convert|164|m|abbr=on}} high. Where the two spans meet, another road rises to join them at a free-flowing interchange suspended {{convert|50|m|abbr=on}} above the ground.
The bridge opened for traffic on 20 September 2006, before the official opening date of 5 December 2006. It is part of the Bangkok Industrial Ring Road, a royal scheme initiated by King Bhumibol Adulyadej that aimed to solve traffic problems within Bangkok and surrounding areas, especially the industrial area around Khlong Toei Port, southern Bangkok, and Samut Prakan province. [[File:Statue of King Rama IX Lat Pho Park, Samut Prakan (14).jpg|thumb|The bridges and Statue of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Lat Pho Park|left]] According to tradition, all bridges over the Chao Phraya in Bangkok are named after a member of the royal family.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}} In October 2009, it was announced that both bridges would be named after King Bhumibol Adulyadej,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30114975/Bridges-named-after-His-Majesty|title=Bridges named after His Majesty|work=The Nation|access-date=2012-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024050040/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30114975/Bridges-named-after-His-Majesty|archive-date=2009-10-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the northern bridge officially named "Bhumibol 1 Bridge" and the southern bridge "Bhumibol 2 Bridge".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paknam.com/latest-news/bhumibol-bridge-in-samut-prakan.html |title=Bhumibol Bridge in Samut Prakan สะพานภูมิพล - Samut Prakan (Paknam) จังหวัดสมุทรปราการ เมืองปากน้ำ |publisher=Paknam |date=2009-10-21 |access-date=2012-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625204127/http://www.paknam.com/latest-news/bhumibol-bridge-in-samut-prakan.html |archive-date=2012-06-25 }}</ref> The unofficial name "Mega Bridge" was also widely used.<ref>[http://2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Bridge/wongwein/wongwein.shtml "Bangkok's Mega-Bridge"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061126172345/http://2bangkok.com/2bangkok/Bridge/wongwein/wongwein.shtml |date=November 26, 2006 }} on ''2bangkok.com'', with many photos of the construction process. The author tentatively claims to have originated the name "mega-bridge".</ref>
The bridge was featured on the Discovery Channel.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/machines_and_engineering/megabuilders/bangkokmegabridge/index.shtml |title=Discovery Channel Nederland |publisher=Discovery Channel |access-date=2012-09-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821213033/http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/machines_and_engineering/megabuilders/bangkokmegabridge/index.shtml |archive-date=2009-08-21 }}</ref> Even though the bridges are the fastest way to drive from Phra Pradaeng district, Samut Prakan Province to Bangkok, motorcycles were banned from using the two Bhumibol bridges from 1 November 2018 due to safety concerns.<ref name="motorcycles">{{cite news|last1=Boyle|first1=Gary|title=Police ban motorcycles on Bhumibol bridges|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/1568470/police-ban-motorcycles-on-bhumibol-bridges|access-date=1 November 2018|work=Bangkok Post|date=1 November 2018}}</ref>
==Structure== * Bhumibol Bridge 1 is the northern bridge connecting Yan Nawa District, Bangkok and Phra Pradaeng District.<ref name="motorcycles"/> It is a cable-stayed bridge with seven lanes together with two high pillars. The structure is reinforced concrete {{convert|50|m|abbr=on}} above water level. * Bhumibol Bridge 2 is the southern bridge. The structure is almost the same as Bhumibol Bridge 1, with seven lanes and two high pillars and built using reinforced concrete {{convert|50|m|abbr=on}} above the level of the river.
== Gallery == {{wide image|Bhumibol Bridge panorama.jpg|700px|View of both bridges||none}}
{{wide image|Bumipol Bridge small.jpg|700px|Night shot of the Industrial Ring Road Bridge in May 2019||none}}
{{wide image|Bhumibol 2020.jpg|700px|Panorama sunset||none}}
{{wide image|Lad Pho Park 20201212 (5).jpg|700px|View under both bridges from Lat Pho Park (a statue at right is the statue of King Bhumibol Adulyadej)||none}}
== See also == * King Bhumibol Adulyadej
== References == {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category|Bhumibol Bridge}} *[https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Thailand&t=k&ie=UTF8&ll=13.659978,100.539086&spn=0.009987,0.021458&om=1 Map] * {{Structurae|id=20016773|title=Mega Bridge (I)}} * {{Structurae|id=20016774|title=Mega Bridge (II)}}
{{Cable-stayed bridges in Southeast Asia}} {{Chao Phraya River bridges}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Samut Prakan province Category:Transport in Samut Prakan province Category:Cable-stayed bridges in Thailand Category:Road bridges in Bangkok Category:Bridges completed in 2006 Category:Crossings of the Chao Phraya River Category:Yan Nawa district