The restoration of National Road 3, linking Phnom Penh and Kampot on the coast, is 45 per cent complete, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said.
The director-general of public works at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport Heng Rathpiseth told The Post that work on the road is expected to conclude in October 2022.
Work to expand the thoroughfare from two to four lanes began in October 2018 with a loan from the Chinese government. China Road and Bridge Corporation is the main contractor, with Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Co Ltd undertaking technical inspections.
“The project is developing as planned, and it will be finished by the original deadline. It is now 45 per cent complete,” Rathpiseth said.
Cambodia Freight Forwarders Association president Sin Chanthy said National Road 3 is an essential artery for freight and the movement of tourists.
The road also acts as an alternative to National Road 4 – which connects Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk province – when this one floods.
Kampot province has a seaport – as well as a new port still under construction – so increasing the province’s connectivity will significantly contribute to the economic development of the country, Chanthy said.
Cambodia Association of Travel Agents adviser Hor Vandy said when fully renovated, National Road 3 will boost the flow of tourists to Kampot and Kep – both home to many natural sites.
“This road is vital for the tourism sector on the coast,” he said.
In the first 10 months of last year, Cambodia welcomed 5.29 million foreign tourists, an increase of 9.70 per cent compared to the same period in 2018, said the Ministry of Tourism. During that period, 1.01 million foreigners visited the coast, an increase of 42.10 per cent.
