Photo Credit:Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand
The Pratunam flyover on Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok will be closed for around 10 months starting in late April, as tunnelling work for the MRT Orange Line enters a critical underground phase, according to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA).
Kittikorn Tanpao, MRTA’s deputy governor, said the closure is required to allow the tunnel to pass beneath the Pratunam intersection as part of the Orange Line project linking Bang Khun Non and Thailand Cultural Centre in Huai Khwang.
The construction will involve dismantling key parts of the flyover, including sections of the deck, one pier span and foundation piles, before reinforcing and restoring the structure. The entire process is expected to take about 10 months.
The flyover will be shut continuously from 10pm on April 24 until February 11, 2027.
During the initial phase, traffic will be diverted, but vehicles will still be able to cross the Pratunam intersection at ground level under traffic signals. Two inbound lanes and three outbound lanes on Phetchaburi Road will remain open.
Given that the area is one of Bangkok’s busiest traffic corridors, the MRTA is coordinating closely with contractor CH Karnchang Plc, project partner Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM), and multiple government agencies.
To help ease congestion, several alternative routes have been designated, including the Si Rat Expressway and major roads such as Si Ayutthaya, Ratchadamnoen Nok, Rama VI, Rama IX, Sukhumvit and Ploenchit.
Drivers heading towards eastern Bangkok are advised to avoid the Pratunam area and use expressways or parallel routes where possible.
The MRTA said traffic conditions will be continuously monitored and adjusted throughout the construction period, working with the Metropolitan Police Bureau and local stations to manage traffic flow, including optimising signal timings based on real-time conditions.