Rama II Road, a bustling artery often lionized as “The Road with Never-Ending Construction,” is infamous for both its lengthy development saga and the frequency of its mishaps. Spanning a considerable timeline of nearly five decades, this stretch has witnessed a tapestry of traffic incidents, primarily linked to its expansive and perpetual construction projects. Despite its notoriety, this vital thoroughfare to southern Thailand bears witness to numerous ambitious undertakings aimed at untangling its chronic traffic snarl-ups.
Most recently, in the cool early hours of a Saturday morning, calamity struck once again when a hulking concrete beam structure gave way at the construction site of the Dao Khanong Expressway Bridge. This incident marked just another sad entry in the Department of Highways’ ledger, which has cataloged over 2,500 construction-related accidents since 2019.
The tragic collapse near Soi 25 of Rama II Road in Bang Mod, a subdistrict nestled within Bangkok’s Chom Thong district, claimed the lives of five individuals and left 24 others nursing injuries. Among those lost were a Thai engineer, two Thai workers, and two migrant laborers, infusing a somber note to the steadfast march of development.
This bridge forms part of the expansive Rama III–Dao Khanong–Western Outer Ring Road Expressway project, a monumental task under the wing of the Expressway Authority of Thailand. The ITD-VCB joint venture, which merges the prowess of Italian-Thai Development Pcl with Vijitphan Construction Ltd, shoulders the responsibility for this mammoth project.
Documented since 2019, over 2,500 accidents have marred Rama II Road, also known far and wide as Highway No 35 (Dao Khanong–Wang Manao), culminating in 143 heartbreaking deaths and 1,441 injuries, all exclusive of the latest episode.
The roadway has been a silent witness to a litany of notable mishaps, each unraveling its own story of chaos amidst concrete and steel:
- August 9, 2020: Two unfortunate vehicles plunged into an inadequately marked construction pit in Samut Sakhon.
- August 21, 2021: The grim specter of danger loomed when a worker tragically fell to his death during a precarious bridge beam installation.
- July 17, 2022: Tumbling construction materials wreaked havoc, damaging vehicles and injuring three unsuspecting passersby.
- July 22, 2022: Cracks clawed their way into an elevated bridge, necessitating two weeks of intensive repair.
- July 31, 2022: In a heart-stopping disaster, a U-turn bridge collapsed, claiming two lives and inflicting injuries on two more.
- March 7, 2023: A misstep led to a crane toppling over while attempting to hoist a backhoe.
- May 7, 2023: Another beam came crashing down, resulting in one fatality and significant damage to four vehicles.
- November 29, 2024: During the M82 elevated highway project, a gantry crane, along with a concrete segment, succumbed to gravity’s unforgiving grip, causing multiple casualties.
Rama II Road’s saga is one of persistence amidst adversity, a testament to the unwavering spirit of development against the backdrop of misfortune. As projects continue to overlap and evolve, the hope is for a brighter, safer path ahead—a promise of progress uncompromised by the specter of prior calamities.
Why are roads in Thailand always under construction? It’s like driving on a perpetual death trap.
Unfortunately, it’s not unique to Thailand. Infrastructure woes are a global issue.
True, but the frequency of accidents on Rama II Road is staggering, don’t you think?
Yeah, but 2,500 accidents in just a few years is outrageous. What’s taking so long?
Why are these deaths marked as just statistics? It’s tragic and yet nothing seems to change.
I get your frustration, but sometimes big projects require time and patience.
Patience is fine, but not at the cost of lives. Something needs to be done about accountability.
Agreed. The real problem is the lack of accountability from authorities.
Rama II Road is notorious for these tragedies. When will safety be prioritized?
It’s a shame it takes loss of life for authorities to even consider changes.
Very true. It should never have reached this point.
The mismanagement of the entire project is a textbook example of a developmental failure.
Real question is, will this tragedy change anything for the future projects?
You can’t seriously still blame the construction company, they’re doing their job.
Their job includes ensuring safety, which they’re clearly failing at.
Every job has risks. They’re doing their best, I’m sure.
Why do we allow construction to happen at the cost of human lives? It’s enraging.
The priorities seem off when measured in lost lives and injuries against potential future benefits.
It’s crucial to ensure workers’ safety. These accidents reflect poorly on everyone involved.
Infrastructural growth shouldn’t be a funeral march.
Big cities need big projects. It’s just an unacceptable risk we have to reduce.
Reducing isn’t enough. Elimination of such risks should be the goal.
Absolute elimination isn’t practical, but minimizing, yes.
So much money invested, yet the outcome is so grim.
They should hire a new management team to avoid such mishaps!
A balance must be found between expansion and safety. This isn’t it.
Tough calls have to be made, sometimes at unpleasant costs.
Costs being human lives should never be excused in development.
Where does the accountability lie? Deaths shouldn’t just be a ‘feature’ of infrastructure development.
With modern technology, why are such collapses even happening? Lack of proper planning?