The Apsara National Authority said specialist officials are assessing how best to remove soil used to cover an ancient bridge in Siem Reap province without damaging the structure.

The authority is concerned about the impact excavation could have on the Spean Touch bridge if the wrong methods are used.

The bridge is located along National Road 6 in Prasat Bakong district’s Trapaing Thom commune.

Chhean Rotha, the director of the Apsara National Authority’s Department of Conservation of Monuments Outside Angkor Archaeological Park, told The Post on Thursday that authorities had summoned the owner of the land, Cheam Bun Nath, to a meeting on the matter.

“He agreed to remove the soil, but we won’t allow him to do it on his own because we are worried the bridge could be damaged. We need to remove the soil using the correct methods. The authority is assessing the cost and [Bun Nath] will have to cover it.

“The weight of the soil could damage the bridge, so we have to remove it. The history of the bridge relates to Angkor temple, and any damage to it will result in lost historical value,” Rotha said.

Rotha said the Apsara National Authority had decided not to bring legal action against Bun Nath because he had had taken responsibility for covering the bridge.

Bun Nath, a resident of Siem Reap town’s Slakram commune, could not be reached for comment by The Post on Thursday.

Rotha said that after removing the soil, the Apsara National Authority would mark a boundary around the bridge to avoid future encroachment.

He said the land would be returned to Bun Nath after the boundary had been marked.

Other ancient bridges, like the majority sandstone Spean Touch, meet National Road 6. When the government widened the road, the bridges were preserved as national heritage, under the management of the Apsara National Authority.