The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has announced plans to remove three significant flyovers in Bangkok to facilitate the construction of the Orange Line electric railway, while also implementing strategies to minimize traffic disruption.
Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote has directed the MRTA to keep the project on track, as stated by Vithaya Punmongkol, the acting governor of the authority.
MRTA aims to prioritize safety, reduce traffic impacts, and keep the public informed, he mentioned on Wednesday.
Traffic diversions for utility and infrastructure removal began on November 15 at five Orange Line stations: Bang Khun Non, Siriraj, Democracy Monument, Yommarat, and Pratunam. Additional detours at other locations are expected to be implemented by the end of this month.
Mr. Vithaya provided a timeline for the demolition of the flyovers and the necessary traffic adjustments. The flyover on Charan Sanitwong Road is scheduled to close and be dismantled on January 6, with traffic rerouted to single-lane roads on nearby routes, such as Liap Thang Rotfai Taling Chan Road and Sutthawat Road. Reconstruction is anticipated to commence in December 2026 and be completed by June 2028.
The flyover at the Ratchathewi intersection will close on January 15, while two lanes on either side of Phetchaburi Road will remain open during construction. This reconstruction is expected to start in December 2026 and conclude by April 2028.
Partial demolition of the Pratunam intersection flyover is slated for March 2026, with plans to reopen by November 2026. Four lanes on Phetchaburi Road will stay accessible to drivers during this time.
Mr. Vithaya noted that the MRTA has requested assistance from contractors Ch. Karnchang Plc and Bangkok Expressway and Metro PLC (BEM) in redirecting traffic as needed.
The Orange Line project will also necessitate the rerouting of utilities and excavation for underground tunnels.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has raised concerns regarding potential traffic congestion, as the flyovers are located in some of the city’s busiest areas. It is coordinating with district offices to improve traffic management and ensure that road sections remain usable during the day, with the bulk of the construction scheduled to occur at night.
