Memorial Bridge (Bangkok)

{{Infobox bridge |bridge_name = Memorial Bridge |native_name = สะพานปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์ |image = Phra Phuttha Yodfa Bridge Pano.jpg |caption = Memorial Bridge with the Express Boat Pier |official_name = Memorial Bridge |also_known_as = Phra Phuttayotfa Bridge<br>Phut Bridge |carries = 3 lanes of roadway, pedestrians |crosses = [[Chao Phraya River]] |locale = [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] |Maint = |design = |mainspan = 78 m |length = 678 m |preceded = [[Phra Pinklao Bridge]] |followed = [[Phra Pok Klao Bridge]] |width = |clearance = |below = 7.3 m |traffic = |open = 6 April 1932 |closed = |toll = |map_cue = |map_image = |map_text = |map_width = |coordinates = {{coord|13|44|21|N|100|29|51|E|type:landmark_region:TH}} |lat = |long = }}

The '''Memorial Bridge''' ({{langx|th|สะพานปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์}}) is a [[bascule bridge]] over the [[Chao Phraya River]] in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]], connecting the districts of [[Phra Nakhon]] and [[Thon Buri (district)|Thonburi]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.resource.lib.su.ac.th/rattanakosin/index.php/2014-10-27-08-52-05/2015-10-19-03-54-00/2015-10-19-04-15-12|title = พระปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์เฉลิมพระเกียรติ (สะพานพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราช)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | title=พระราชดำริสร้างพระปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์ - ฐานข้อมูลการเมืองการปกครอง สถาบันพระปกเกล้า | url=https://wiki.kpi.ac.th/index.php?title=%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%90%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%93%E0%B9%8C | access-date=2025-07-04 | website=wiki.kpi.ac.th}}</ref>

==History== The bridge opened on 6 April 1932,<ref name="bureau of maintenance">{{cite web|title=Memorial Bridge|url=http://www.roadmaintenance.thaigov.net/bridge_th_memorial.htm |publisher=Bureau of Maintenance and Traffic Safety, Thailand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528064539/http://www.roadmaintenance.thaigov.net/bridge_eng_memorial.html | archive-date=28 May 2008|access-date=10 December 2014}}</ref> by King [[Prajadhipok]] (Rama VII) in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the [[Chakri dynasty]] and the foundation of Bangkok, shortly before the [[Siamese Revolution of 1932|Siamese coup d'état]] of 24 June 1932. In English the bridge is commonly known as Memorial Bridge, however in Thai, it is most commonly known as '''Phra Phutthayotfa Bridge''' (สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า), after King [[Phutthayotfa Chulalok]] (Rama I), the first king of the Chakri dynasty. The name is more commonly shortened as '''Saphan Phut''' (สะพานพุทธ) or '''Phut Bridge''' or '''Buddha Bridge''' (meaning: '''Bridge of Buddha''').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://palanla.com/th/domesticLocation/detail/1428|title=เพื่อนที่จะพาคุณไปสัมผัสมุมสวยๆ ของทุกสถานที่ท่องเที่ยวทั่วโลก พร้อมแนะนำวีธีการเดินทาง|website=palanla.com}}</ref>

Construction of the bridge was started on 3 December 1929<ref name="bureau of maintenance"/> by [[Dorman Long]], Middlesbrough, England, under the supervision of Italian technicians from SNOS (Società Nazionale Officine Savignano).<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fasoli|first1=Vilma|last2=Filippi|first2=Francesca B.|date=2014-12-01|title=The penetration of Italian professionals in the context of the Siamese modernization|journal=ABE Journal |volume=5 |language=en|issue=5|doi=10.4000/abe.841|issn=2275-6639|doi-access=free|s2cid=106975874 }}</ref> The bridge used to have a double-leaf [[Bascule bridge|bascule-type]] lifting mechanism, which is now unused.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fasoli |first1=Vilma |title=The penetration of Italian professionals in the context of the Siamese modernization |journal=ABE Journal |date=2014 |issue=5/2014}}</ref>

On 5 June 1944, as part of the [[bombing of Bangkok in World War II]], a force of [[B-29 Superfortress]]es, in a test of their capabilities before being deployed against the [[Japanese home islands]], targeted the bridge. Their bombs fell over two kilometers away, damaging no civilian structures, but downed some [[tram]] lines and destroyed a Japanese military hospital and the [[Japanese secret police]] headquarters. It was not until 1947 that Thai authorities learned of the intended target. Eventually, it was taken out by the Allies and rebuilt in 1949.<ref>{{cite journal |author= Duncan Stearn | date = 30 May – 5 June 2003| title = A Slice of Thai History: The air war over Thailand, 1941-1945; Part Two, The Allies attack Thailand, 1942-1945 |journal= Pattaya Mail |volume= XI |issue= 21 |publisher= Pattaya Mail Publishing Co |url= https://www.pattayamail.com/513/columns.shtml#hd6 |access-date= 17 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.matichon.co.th/entertainment/arts-culture/news_96915|title = ย้อนอดีต 6 เม.ย. 2475 ชมภาพชุดพิธีเปิด "สะพานพุทธ" และพระบรมราชานุสาวรีย์ ร.1 (มีคลิป)|date = 6 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://library.stou.ac.th/odi/silpa-bhirasri/PIC04.html|title = พระบรมพระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลก ประดิษฐานอยู่ที่เชิงสะพานปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์ (สะพานพุทธ) กรุงเทพฯ}}</ref>

The entry ramp on the east side of the river contains [[Chao Phraya Express Boat#Bridge|Memorial Bridge Pier]] (N6) for the [[Chao Phraya Express Boat]]. Renovated in 2020 under the Marine Department's Smart Pier project, it features a blend of contemporary [[Thai architecture|Thai]] and [[European architecture|Western]] design. Passengers can enjoy clear views of the bridge and the nearby [[Chao Phraya Sky Park]]. Although there is a ticket booth, the pier has no on-site staff, and tickets are purchased directly on the boat.<ref>{{cite web|via=Facebook|title=สวยมีเอกลักษณ์กับ "ท่าเรือสะพานพุทธ (N6)"|author=Thailand Update|accessdate=2025-09-09|date=2024-08-12|url=https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F9MctTu94/}}</ref>

A rapid transit station under construction, [[Memorial Bridge MRT station]] of the [[MRT Purple Line]], is named after the bridge. However, it is located in the [[Thonburi]] side. (whereas the Memorial Bridge pier is located in Phra Nakhon side)

== Gallery == <gallery> File:สะพานพุทธ เปิดสะพาน 1954.jpg File:สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (5).jpg File:สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (6).jpg File:สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร (8).jpg File:สะพานปฐมบรมราชานุสรณ์ (สะพานพระพุทธยอดฟ้า) เขตพระนคร-เขตธนบุรี กรุงเทพมหานคร (2).jpg File:สะพานพุทธ.jpg </gallery>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Memorial Bridge, Bangkok}} * {{Structurae|id=20005943|title=Memorial Bridge}}

[[Category:Road bridges in Bangkok]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1932]] [[Category:Crossings of the Chao Phraya River]] [[Category:Phra Nakhon district]] [[Category:Bascule bridges]] [[Category:1932 establishments in Siam]] [[Category:Unregistered ancient monuments in Bangkok]] [[Category:Truss bridges in Thailand]]