Pittayasatien Bridge : Connecting People to District and City

Abstract

Pitthayasatien Bridge is a small landmark in Bangkok that reflects the transformation of the capital city from a water-based city to a land-based city. This bridge is part of the transportation route on Charoen Krung Road and is an important link between Charoen Krung Road and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, both of which have been major transportation and shipping routes in Bangkok since the era of economic growth and modernization in various aspects during the reign of King Mongkut. In the broader context of the city, Pitthayasatien Bridge is an important link from the city center to the southern outskirts, which were the trading areas of Westerners. The bridge is located at the mouth of Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem on the south bank of the city, an area with a large number of factories, rice mills, and shops. At the same time, in the context of a small district, this bridge, which is part of the Charoen Krung Road alignment, connected people between the Talat Noi and Bang Rak areas, creating a commercial hub during the era when roads were replacing rivers and canals.

Originally a wooden bridge, Pitthayasatien Bridge was later upgraded to an iron bridge. The bridge has been used constantly, enduring the heat and rain, and passing countless vehicles and people for a very long time. It became a landmark of the Charoen Krung commercial district. The necessity for people to cross this bridge became even more apparent during the reign of King Chulalongkorn, when the Ministry of Public Works prepared a plan to close the road for repairs and replacement of the iron bridge in 1899. This highlighted the limitations of the main transportation routes concentrated only on the inner side of Bangkok along the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal, which were becoming insufficient for the city's growth. However, the attempt to solve traffic problems with "road solutions" following the road closure for repairs on the Pitthayasatien Bridge was a key factor in the subsequent acceleration of urban development by constructing roads on the outer side of the capital, defined by the Phadung Krung Kasem Canal.