Cambodia’s new expressway project is due for completion shortly – – image courtesy of © Sjankauskas, Dreamstime.com
Construction work for Cambodia’s Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway project is due for completion in July 2022. The expressway measures 187km and is costing US$2 billion to construct.
The project is being carrier out by the Chinese contractor China Road and Bridge Engineering Co under the build-operate-transfer model. The contract includes a 36 month construction period and 50-year concession for operation. When it opens to traffic, the expressway will provide a fast and efficient transport link between the capital, Phnom Penh and the port city of Sihanoukville. The expressway is expected to reduce the average journey time to just 150 minutes, compared with 4-6 hours at present.
The project is being carried out under the Chinese Government’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative and the route is also known as the Golden Port Expressway. The work will improve both transport and economic links between China and Cambodia.
Construction commenced for the project in 2019 and much of the funding for the work is being provided by the Chinese Government. The route features two lanes in either direction for most of its lengths, running through five of Cambodia’s provinces. The expressway features seven major intersections, 40 large-medium sized bridges and will have speed limits of 80km/h and 120km/h at different points along its length.
The design of the route features a central divider with guard rail, as well as guard rail along the sides of the route. A special PMB-type asphalt is being used to cope with the Cambodian climate and optimise working life.
