Dechatiwong Bridge

Dechatiwong Bridge carries Phahonyothin Road across the Chao Phraya River at kilometre 340, just before the road enters central Nakhon Sawan. This is genuinely a working road bridge rather than a purpose-built tourist site — the honest reason to stop is the view rather than the structure itself, and it’s a legitimate one: locals rate it as one of the better vantage points for the “two-colour river” effect, where the Ping and Nan rivers’ distinct water colours are still visible before merging fully into the Chao Phraya a little further downstream.

Built by the Highways Department in 1942 and opened on 1 September 1950, the bridge is a 404.5-metre ferro-concrete span, 6.5 metres wide with a 1-metre footpath, and takes its name from Major Mom Luang Kri Dechatiwong, the department’s director-general at the time. It replaced river-crossing by boat on what was then the main route connecting central Thailand to the north. Two newer parallel bridges — Dechatiwong 2 (opened 1971) and Dechatiwong 3 (completed 1993) — now carry the bulk of traffic; the original 1942 span is restricted to cars and motorbikes because of its age, though it remains open and is still used during Songkran and New Year traffic surges.

For the confluence point itself, see Phasan Building (The Origin of the Chao Phraya River), where the Ping and Nan rivers actually meet in town, or Bueng Boraphet, Nakhon Sawan’s larger wetland landmark.