Rama IV Road

Rama IV Road (Thai: ถนนพระรามที่ 4, usually shortened to ถนนพระราม 4) is a major road in Bangkok, Thailand named after King Rama IV. It starts at Mo Mi intersection in the area of Bangkok's Chinatown in Samphanthawong District and ends at the junction with Sukhumvit Road in Khlong Toei District near Bangkok Port, (Khlong Toei Port).

Rama IV Road in Bangkok's Chinatown near Wat Traimit, Odeon Circle and 22 July Circle

History

A canal called Khlong Thanon Trong (คลองถนนตรง; Thanon Trong canal; literally 'straight road canal') originally defined the route of the current road. Around 1857 a parallel paved road was added. In 1919, Rama VI renamed Rama IV Road. In 1947 the canal was drained to make way for an extension of the road. The Paknam Railway, Thailand's first railway line, followed the route of Rama IV Road from 1893 until it closed in 1960 due to under-use and increased road traffic. Several flyovers were added in the 1980s and 1990s to improve traffic flow.

The road is considered to be the first road in Thailand. It was built four years before Charoen Krung Road. Western merchants called on the Siamese government to build a new road. Waterways were then the main transport arteries in those days, but were much slower than overland. When first built, the road had no official name. Locals called it Thanon Trong (ถนนตรง; straight road) or Thanon Hua Lamphong (ถนนหัวลำโพง; 'Hua Lamphong Road').[1]

The MRT Blue Line snakes underneath Rama IV Road between Hua Lamphong MRT Station and Queen Sirikit National Convention Center MRT Station.

Bordering the road are the Hua Lamphong railway station, Wat Hua Lamphong, New Sam Yan Market, Lumphini Park and Rama VI Memorial Plaza, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai-Japanese Friendship Flyover, and 3HD.

Development

As of 2019 the real estate bordering the road, particularly a 3.5 kilometre section stretching from Sam Yan to Klong Toey intersection, has attracted property investments totaling 185 billion baht and more investment is forecast.[2]

References
  1. จับเข่าเล่าประวัติศาสตร์ (2013-07-11). "…ถนนพระรามที่สี่…" [Rama VI Road]. Facebook (in Thai).
  2. Katharangsiporn, Kanana; Jitpleecheep, Pitsinee; Sangwongwanich, Pathom (29 July 2019). "Rise of Rama IV Road". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 29 July 2019.

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