Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge

The Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge (Thai: สะพานเฉลิมสวรรค์ ๕๘) was a bridge crossing the northern end of Khlong Khu Mueang Doem (คลองคูเมืองเดิม)), or old moat, in Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. The bridge, built in the axis of Phra Athit Road (Thai: ถนนพระอาทิตย์), was opened on 23 October 1912 by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), two years after his father's death, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Last structure to be built of the Chaloem Bridges Series, which numbered seventeen, it "was dedicated to King Rama V by King Rama VI on his father's 58th birthday".

The bridge had four pillars, one at each corner, that were topped by the royal cypher of King Chulalongkorn: "จปร" which stands for "มหาจุฬาลงกรณ์ ปรมราชาธิราช" (lit: "Chulalongkorn The Great, The Mighty King"). The name of the bridge was inscribed on two opposite sides at the square base of each pillar as well as the foundation date of the bridge on the two other sides as related to the Rattanakosin Era: "ศก ๑๓๐", meaning the 130th year of the Rattanakosin Era.

The trams of the Dusit Line (Thai: สายดุสิต) used to cross the bridge linking the Phra Athit Road (Thai: ถนนพระอาทิตย์) with the Rachini Alley (Thai: ถนนราชินี) until 23 December 1963 when the line was cut between the Bangkok National Museum and Baan Maliwan (now the offices of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization).

It was dismantled in 1971 when the Phra Pinklao bridge was built at that spot. At that time, the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA) and the Society for the Conservation Of National Treasure and Environment (SCONTE) called for the conservation of the structure to the Bangkok Municipality who "agreed to re-erect the bridge at an appropriate place". Part of the bridge structure was supposed to be rebuilt in Lumphini Park but due to budgetary constraints this did not materialize. It was planned instead to use the structure to extend the Chang Rongsi Bridge but this project was also abandoned.

Further reading and external links

 * Pictures gallery of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge
 * Video of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge from the movie "Norah" (1966)
 * (1) Pictures and history (in Thai) of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge
 * (2) Pictures and history (in Thai) of the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge