Realizing that Bangkok was approaching 150 years as the capital of Thailand (1782-1932), King Prajadhipok (Rama VII), in 1927, came up with the idea of building structures to memorialize and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rakkanakosin period. He assigned ministers to discuss the construction project.
After listening to proposals and comments submitted by the construction committee, the King concluded that two commemorative structures should be build. The first was the statue of Kind Rama I, the first monarch of the Chakri dynasty and founder of Bangkok as the capital of Thailand. The other was a bridge across the Chao Phraya river, linking Bangkok with Thon Buri, to facilitate travel across the river.
King Prajadhipok appointed his brother, Prince Kamphaeng-phet, who was Minister of Commerce and Communications, as director of the project, and the design division of the railway department was entrusted with project design.
Winning bidder for the construction work was British-based Dorman Long Company, which signed the construction contract in London in 1929. Six months after signing, much progress was made with the project. King Prajadhipok performed a ceremony to lay the founding stone for the bridge on January 9, 1929. He graciously granted the name 'Saphan Phra Phutthayotfa', King Rama I Memorial Bridge.
