As dawn broke on Monday morning, a singular, serpentine path emerged to guide eager motorists through the chaos—a freshly minted lifeline circumventing chaos. The Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat), with the adrenaline of urgency driving them, unveiled a slender detour around the site of the unexpected collapse that startled commuters on Saturday. This detour is more than just a road; it’s a promise of smoother voyages for those making their way toward Bangkok’s iconic Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway from the bustling Rama II Road, via the Dao Khanong toll plaza. The morning sun cast a hopeful glow as this narrow, two-lane detour was thrust into action precisely at the break of 6am, offering at least a modicum of normalcy to the city’s beleaguered drivers.
The calamity that necessitated this detour was nothing short of dramatic—a beam, a mighty part of the expressway being erected, decided to ditch its lofty intentions and find solace on the Dao Khanong ramp below. Its descent, early on Saturday morning, littered the area with debris that dared to barricade any passage and held traffic, and patience, hostage.
However, Exat, with commendable efficiency, sprang into action to clear the stubborn remnants of this collapse. Their promise? A full comeback of the inbound route to the Dao Khanong toll plaza within a short span of seven days. A promise fueled by a meticulous operation where 75% of the debris had been exiled by Monday, and the relief it brought was palpable.
But the reconstruction story has its villains—a dastardly beam, like a villain in a gripping film, decided to engage in a destructive encore. When it fell, it embraced a span of the elevated ramp with it, the duo now lying side by side on the ground, whispering tales of a once-grand structure. To mend this, Exat predicts a 30-day odyssey before outbound traffic can again glide over this stretch toward Dao Khanong.
This entire unfolding is part of a grander saga under construction—the Rama III-Dao Khanong-Bangkok Outer Western Ring Road expressway. An ambitious project, it lays like a modern masterpiece above segments of the Chalerm Maha Nakhon expressway and Rama II Road. Artemis had Apollo, and this project has its champions in the form of the ITD-VCB Joint Venture—a collaboration between the Italian-Thai Development Public Company Limited and Vichitbhan Construction Company. Their mission? To lay a road as grand and unyielding as its name suggests.
Every hammer’s fall and every beam’s lift moves the metropolis closer to this vision—a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance. As motorists navigate through temporary pathways today, they do so with the hope of a more interconnected tomorrow. And until this grand tapestry is woven tightly and the roads run seamlessly beneath us again, we watch the skies and the ground with stories of adventure in our hearts.
Why don’t they plan these things better in the first place? This could have been avoided!
Accidents happen, but you’re right. Better planning could save lives.
Infrastructure always has unforeseen issues. The key is how quickly they respond, which I think they did well here.
Totally agree. We need more oversight.
I was stuck in traffic for HOURS because of this! The new detour helped, but it’s not enough.
I was too, it’s frustrating. They should offer free toll passes for this inconvenience.
You can’t predict accidents, but maybe a little compensation wouldn’t hurt while they fix it.
The economic impact of this collapse is going to ripple across sectors. I hope authorities are prepared.
What kind of impacts are you talking about? I’m curious.
Delays increase transport costs, impact businesses. It’s a chain reaction.
People don’t realize how much work goes into repairing these structures. It’s not easy but they’re doing a great job given the circumstances.
If it’s not easy, maybe they should get more hands to speed it up.
I’m more concerned about the environmental impact. Debris and construction waste aren’t just a traffic issue.
They should use more eco-friendly methods for cleanup. Environment matters!
Good point. I hadn’t thought of that aspect. Every action counts.
Is anyone else tired of them trying to get ‘back to normal’? When was the last time Bangkok roads were normal?
Haha, fair point. I think we need a new definition of ‘normal’.
Who’s handling the security checks on these constructions? Seems like someone dropped the ball.
It might just be oversight. But you’re right; accountability is crucial.
This could lead to major legal consequences. Ensuring safety should be a top priority.
Thank goodness for the workers on ground zero. Their hard work is surely underappreciated.
The detour is so narrow! It feels like we’re driving on a tightrope.
It’s temporary, but you’re right. They should increase lane size if possible.
I wonder if this will make them rethink the pace and methods of urban development.
Hopefully! We need smarter, not just faster, growth.
I was supposed to take that route this weekend. Glad I found out before I got there.
Is it just me, or is Rama II always in the news for something going wrong?
It’s prone to issues. We really need sustainable long-term solutions.
The speed limits now seem like suggestions. You can’t go fast on these detours.
I’m just a tourist, this sounds like an adventure, although not the kind I’d like.
Let’s hope that once it’s all wrapped up, traffic will be much better!
That’s the dream, but let’s see how reality pans out.
Patience is key, but it seems to be wearing thin for many.
I don’t think this is going to be resolved anytime soon, 30 days seems way too optimistic.
Agreed. These timelines rarely hold.