Rama III Road (Thai: ถนนพระรามที่ 3, RTGS: Thanon Phra Ram Thi Sam; usually shortened to ถนนพระราม 3) is a main road in inner Bangkok. The 12 km (7.5 mi) long road runs along the bend of Chao Phraya River on the Phra Nakhon side (Bangkok core).
The bus rapid transit, Bangkok BRT (Sathon–Ratchaphruek route) operates with six stations (Rama III Bridge, Charoenrat, Rama IX Bridge, Wat Dokmai, Wat Pariwat, Wat Dan) on this road.
Rama III Bridge (widely known as Krungthep II Bridge or New Krungthep Bridge) carries the road as well.
History
Rama III Road was built before the 1997 financial crisis when Thai government wanted to expand the commercial zone from Silom Road to a new location. Many businessmen and investors built high-rise buildings and port warehouses along the road, such as CentralPlaza Rama III, Bank of Ayudhya Headquarters, Bangkok Bank, Rama III Office and IT Division. Many of these buildings have been abandoned because of the crisis.
It was named in honour of Nangklao (Rama III), the third sovereign of Chakri dynasty, who was regarded as an expert in merchanting, to match the road history and its condition. In the past, merchant ships cruised along the river and Thanon Tok Port was considered the main port of the Siamese capital.[1][2][3]