SAMUT SAKHON: A reversible lane has been introduced on Rama II Road to alleviate outbound traffic congestion following the collapse of a launching gantry crane on Friday, which caused fatalities and extensive disruption.
The Highways Department confirmed that precast concrete segments had been cleared from the site, but the fallen crane remains. Officials estimate that removing the gantry, a delicate operation requiring precision, will take about two weeks.
To ease congestion, the reversible lane spans a one-kilometer stretch of Rama II Road between Mahachai Mueang Mai market at the 20.9-kilometer marker and tambon Khok Krabue at the 21.8-kilometer marker. It operates daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The collapsed structures were part of the M82 inter-city motorway project, designed to improve the Bangkok-Southern Thailand transport link. The incident occurred early Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of six construction workers, including two Thai and four Myanmar nationals. Nine others were injured, with six remaining in hospital.
Engineers are inspecting the remaining structures of the elevated motorway to ensure safety and prevent further incidents.
The Highways Department assured the public that measures are being taken to manage traffic effectively and address the aftermath of the accident.
