The construction of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway in Cambodia is 70.93 percent completed as of November this year, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, citing that the completion of the project is set for mid-2023.
The update was made after a site inspection to some sections of construction sites located in Kampong Speu province, the ministry said on Sunday.
The delegation was led by Yit Bonna, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, aiming to inspect the progress on the construction. The visit was also joined by the contracted firm.
“The purpose of the inspection visit was to monitor and evaluate the implementation of construction work to ensure compliance with technical standards, especially to inspect the location of traffic diversion points and construction sites along the hills that may be subject to landslides, causing potential danger,” he said.
The ministry recommended some points for the company to thoroughly check the location of each diversion intersection, especially in areas where there are no traffic barriers, to find an effective solution and ensure the safety of motorists who will use the expressway and suggested examining the technical rules to protect the road from landslides by building infrastructure to protect some areas next to the hills.
The road project broke ground in July 2019, stretces between Samraong Krom commune, Por Senchey district, Phnom Penh and Bei commune, Preah Sihanouk.
Being built at a cost of $2.019 billion, the road will take 48 months to complete. The road is constructed by PPSHV Expressway Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China Road and Bridge Corporate and technical assessment is by Malaysia-based Minconsult SDN. BHD.
Running 190 km, the road has four lanes with a width of 24.5m. It has three stop stations, a parking area and four operation and maintenance centers.
The expressway crosses through Kampong Speu province for 80.8 km, Koh Kong province at 1.92 km and Preah Sihanouk province at 89.89 km.
The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway Project is the Kingdom’s first expressway project and the most important strategic corridor project in Cambodia. It will reduce the travel time between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville seaport by two hours from five hours on the existing national road number 4 and it will help reduce transport costs.
The expressway is will help promote transport, contributing to completeness of logistics in the region.
The expressway construction is made amid the government’s plans to expand the capacity of its only deep seaport –Preah Sihanouk Autonomous Port.
According to the ministry, the port will construct a new $200-million-worth terminal with 350m in length and 14.5m depth in 2022 and scheduled to be completed in 2025 while the second and third projects are scheduled to be completed in 2028 and 2030 respectively.
This article was first published in Khmer Times. All contents and images are copyright to their respective owners and sources.
