Plans are being up in Thailand’s capital Bangkok for a new expressway project in a bid to cut the city’s chronic congestion problem. This new route would provide a connection between the Western Outer Ring Road and Rama II Road. The project is being planned by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat). Financing for the project worth US$918.3 million will be provided by the Thailand Future Fund (TTF). The new route will include an elevated stretch from Rama II's traffic island towards the Western Outer Ring Road. It will also include a suspension bridge with eight lanes running parallel to the Rama IX bridge. The tender process is expected to be run in December 2017 with the winner being selected in the first three months of 2018.
Meanwhile plans are also being made for a new bridge that will span the Chao Phraya River that is intended to help cut congestion in the area. The project is being planned by the Rural Roads Department of Thailand, with the new crossing located close to Sanambin Nam Road. The new bridge will form part of a 10km link from Rachaphruek Road on one side of the Chao Phraya River to Tambon Tha It at Nonthaburi with Ngam Won Wan Road's Wat Buakhan temple and Sanambin Nam Road. There has been some resistance to the bridge project as it involves up to 200 homes having to be relocated.
