Pratunam flyover to close for 10 months for Orange Line construction

Bridge closure from April 24 to affect Phetchaburi Road traffic

The Pratunam flyover on Phetchaburi Road, Bangkok, will be closed to traffic for about 10 months from late April as tunnelling for the Orange Line enters a critical underground phase, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) announced on Thursday.

Kittikorn Tanpao, deputy governor of the MRTA, said the closure is necessary to allow the tunnel to pass beneath Pratunam intersection for the Bangkok MRT Orange Line section between Bang Khun Non and Thailand Cultural Centre in Huai Khwang district.

The work will involve dismantling sections of the flyover, including deck slabs, one pier span and foundation piles, followed by reinforcement and restoration of the bridge, a process expected to take about 10 months.

The flyover will be closed around the clock from 10pm on April 24 until Feb 11, 2027.

During an initial preparatory phase, traffic will be diverted while motorists can still cross the Pratunam intersection at ground level under traffic signals. Two inbound lanes and three outbound lanes on Phetchaburi Road will remain open.

The area is one of the city’s busiest traffic corridors, prompting extensive coordination among the MRTA, contractor CH Karnchang Plc, project co‑investor Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM) as well as several government agencies.

According to Mr Kittikorn, several alternative routes have been arranged to ease congestion, including the use of expressways and major arterial roads such as Si Rat Expressway, Si Ayutthaya Road, Ratchadamnoen Nok, Rama VI, Rama IX, Sukhumvit and Ploenchit, depending on direction.

Motorists bound for eastern Bangkok are advised to avoid the Pratunam area and use expressways or parallel routes where possible.

The MRTA, a state enterprise under the Transport Ministry, said conditions will be closely monitored and adjusted throughout the construction period to minimise disruption. It is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Bureau and local police stations to manage flows, including adjusting traffic signal timings based on real‑time congestion.