The First Nawarat Bridge

This is by far the best photo of the first Nawarat Bridge over the Ping River. In the distance you can see the First Christian Church. Beautiful picture taken by the Chiang Mai-based Japanese photographer Tanaka

The first Nawarat Bridge

Construction of the bridge

The current Nawarat Bridge is the third bridge that was constructed at this location. The bridge connects the east and the west banks of the Ping River and is the most important bridge in Chiang Mai. Charoenmuang and Thapae roads are the main arteries of Chiang Mai.

The first bridge was built from teak. It was designed by a certain Count Roberty, an Italian engineer. I have not been able to find any information about this person. Over the years this bridge was damaged by fire and later fell victim to floating teak logs. Construction of the second bridge started in 1921 and was completed in 1923. This steel bridge would last until 1965.

Ministry of Civil Engineering Chief Official Gumpaeng Pech-Akarayotin on an inspection tour through Chiang Mai during 1906-1907. Source unknown.

The Borneo company supplies wood

A plaque informs (in translation) about the first Nawarat Bridge: “The construction of this bridge started in 1906 and was completed in 1910. Borneo Co, Ltd contributed 600 teak logs for its construction.” The bridge was a so-called Bowstring Bridge aka tied-arch bridge. This is an arch bridge in which the outward-directed horizontal forces of the arch are borne as tension by a chord tying the arch ends, rather than by the ground or the bridge foundations.

There are very few pictures of this bridge.

Missionary crossing the bridge. Date and source unknown.

The Ping River and the first Bridge. Date and source unknown.

Updated: October 18, 2018