Transport Ressortchef (umgangssprachlich) Saksayam Chidchob suspects human error caused the fatal bridge collapse in Samut Sakhon on Weekend night.
The U-turn bridge collapse onto the particular Rama II Highway in Muang district killed two people and injured two other people.
The particular minister was responding to reporters’ questions at Government House on Tuesday.
Mr Saksayam said the fall of a huge cement beam from the flyover while it was undergoing repair could be the result of human error, yet he would rather await the result of the official investigation by experts. This individual expected the findings within 14 days.
Minister Saksayam said he had earlier ordered the Roads Department to postpone any highway upkeep and construction during times of high traffic upon long holidays.
The incident happened on the Bangkok-bound side of Rama II Highway in late last week’s lengthy weekend, which started on Thursday. Rama II is the primary highway linking Bangkok and the South.
On Mon Highways Department director-general Sarawut Songwilai said the bridge fall occurred while employees were about to put the new concrete surface area of the bridge.
The old surface area had been gouged away. The outer light beam of the bridge fell without warning onto the Rama II Freeway, he said.
The highways chief said his department took full responsibility because the bridge construction and maintenance centre located in Pathum Thani province took up the bridge repair and failed to hire a service provider to do it.
He was also awaiting the investigation selecting. If any established was found responsible, the department might impose strong punishment, Mr Sarawut stated.
Upon Sunday night a five-tonne concrete ray fell from the U-turn bridge directly on to a car passing beneath. Front seat passenger Suwannee Rakthuam, 41, from Bangkok’s Chomthong district, was killed instantly. The car driver, driver Lakhana Jongsiriroj, was injured and taken to hospital.
Part of the ray also hit front side of a pickup truck plus an unloaded diesel tanker.
Two workers dropped from the bridge with the beam – Chan Chaothong, 48, from the Highways Department’s link construction and maintenance centre in Pathum Thani, and Chatchai Sirimat, a casual employee. Chan died from his injuries.
The inbound express lanes of the national highway remain closed while the structural safety of the overbridge is checked.