Khun Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport for Thailand, recently travelled down to Pattaya to officiate over the official opening ceremony of the brand new disability accessible pedestrian bridge over Sukhumvit Road.
After almost two decades of politely requesting, pleading and protesting the local government for the bridge it was the Minister who finally decided that the construction should take place.
The Minister was greeted by the Mayor of Pattaya, Sonthaya Khunpluem, who due to a recent lower limb accident was sitting in a wheelchair, and by Father Peter Srivorakul C.Ss.R., from the Father Ray Foundation.
Before and after the opening ceremony the Minister took time to meet with the students with disabilities at the Father Ray Foundation and also with local people with disabilities, and he discussed ways of how his department can work together and learn from those who have disabilities to improve the quality of life and accessibility for all.
The new bridge is located outside the entrance of the Foundation, in between Index and Boonthavorn, and has an elevator for easy access for wheelchairs, those with mobility problems, the elderly and people with young children.