Purple Line Tunnel Seepage Declining, No New Building Damage
Water seepage into Bangkok's Purple Line tunnel extension has declined significantly with no new structural damage reported, authorities said, as engineers prepare to reopen part of the road after five days of monitoring.
Transport Deputy Minister Siripong Angsakulkiattiwat provided an update on efforts to address water seepage into the tunnel of the Purple Line extension project along the Tao Poon–Ratchburana section (Rama IX Ring Road), Contract 4 between the Buddha and Daw Kha Nong bridges near the main traffic circle. He reported that water infiltration into the tunnel has declined significantly in recent monitoring, while structural settling and cracks in surrounding areas have remained stable over the past five days, indicating overall conditions are improving. The Transport Ministry, State Railway of Thailand, and the contractor have held continuous meetings with tunnel engineering and underground construction experts to assess the situation, analyze causes, and develop comprehensive solutions while prioritizing safety standards for traffic resumption. Engineering experts confirmed that partial traffic reopening is feasible without affecting repairs and to provide public convenience, following five days of close monitoring with no additional settling and no signs of additional risk. However, officials ordered relevant agencies to continue close monitoring for two more days to ensure maximum safety before returning the partial traffic area to the public.
