Prayut also asked the department to retain the bridge’s appearance.
Trucks used the old bridge as a main route in the past before its structure weakened owing to the weight of the vehicles.
Pathom said the department has already hired advisers from Thammasat University’s Research and Consultancy Institute to conduct a study. They commenced research on May 28. The study, which is expected to be wrapped up by March 23, 2021, will involve checking the damage and estimating how to improve and lift the bridge again, besides offering guidelines.
The iconic bridge is expected to be ready and open in 2023.
The department this fiscal year has several projects, including constructing a connection road between Nakorn In Road and Salaya Road. The department is also studying a plan to link Koh Lanta in Krabi province to nearby areas.