View source for Bhumibol Bridge

{{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        = [[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 part of the 13&nbsp;km long Industrial Ring Road connecting southern [[Bangkok]] with [[Samut Prakan province]]. The bridge crosses the [[Chao Phraya River]] twice, with two striking [[cable-stayed bridge|cable-stayed]] spans of lengths of 702 m and 582 m supported by two diamond-shaped pylons 173 m and 164 m high. Where the two spans meet, another road rises to join them at a free-flowing interchange suspended 50 metres 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 [[Bangkok Port|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 50 m 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 50 m 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 ==
* [[Bhumibol Adulyadej|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: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]]