50kg concrete chunk falls from Bangkok interchange bridge

A 50 kilogram concrete fragment fell from the Ekachai interchange bridge onto a footpath in Bangkok's Bang Bon district on August 26, according to officials. The incident prompted a thorough inspection of the structure. The fallen concrete measured approximately 50 by 30 centimeters in size. Alongside municipal enforcement officers and Bang Bon district civil defence volunteers, personnel from the Department of Highways responded to the scene.

They cordoned off the area to prevent pedestrians from walking beneath the bridge during the investigation. Sompong Tong-on, a Department of Highways officer, was informed of the incident by a civil defense volunteer. Officials discovered additional loose concrete on the underside of the bridge that had not yet fallen and removed it as a precautionary measure.

The concrete in question was residual material from the bridge's construction. The bridge had recently undergone repairs, and vibrations from passing traffic were believed to have caused the old material to break loose and dislodge onto the footpath below. Despite the incident, the bridge's structure remained unaffected, and it remained open for regular traffic.

The Bang Khun Thian highway sub-section routinely inspects the bridge and has already completed some repair work. Officials plan to coordinate with a contractor for further repairs and preventive measures.