Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the Japanese minister of foreign affairs to consider providing $80 million on a second Mekong Bridge project that would link to the Asean highway in the Mekong Subregion.

The Government first floated the plan in 2002.

Eang Sophallet, spokesman for Prime Minister Hun Sen told reporters on Sunday that Japan had completed the first feasibility study on the Neak Leung and that the government is in the process of designing the project.

The Japanese government also told the prime minister that construction would commence soon, but did not provide a date.

The Neak Leung bridge would link to National Route 1, and its  completion would  pave the way towards the first trans-Asean road.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the new bridge would play an important role in boosting regional trade.

"The second Mekong bridge is a key link in the Asean highway and the Greater Mekong Subregion and Japan will provide this aid," he said.

The prime minister also said he is confident that Japan will go ahead with the project.

Sources close to the project said that the project would cost about 8 billion yen, or $80 million. "We have not decided on the budget yet, but it is being surveyed," said the source.