The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall ban heavy goods vehicles and concrete trucks entering the capital for five days over the Water Festival period. Hong Menea
The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall announced a ban on heavy goods vehicles and concrete trucks, and restrictions on buses and tuk-tuks entering the capital for five days over the Water Festival period from Saturday until the end of next Wednesday.
A notice released on Wednesday and signed by Phnom Penh municipal governor Khuong Sreng said: “All vehicles travelling to join in the revelry during the Water Festival are not allowed to move along the Tonle Sap riverside; Streets 130, 5 and 154; Preah Norodom Blvd; Streets 214, 51 and 294; the stretch of Samdech Sothearos Blvd until the corner of Street 110; National Assembly Street; Street 78; Great Disciple Sar Bith Street, and Preah Suramarit Blvd.
“Vehicles, including tuk-tuks, carrying passengers on Street 598 and Oknha Mong Reththy Street must divert and join smaller roads. They are not allowed to enter beyond Kim Il-sung Street and the car park at the Boeung Kak development area.”
Buses and tuk-tuks are not allowed to enter the capital from 10am to 10pm, while heavy goods vehicles and concrete trucks are completely banned from entering the capital.
Sreng instructed the drivers of heavy trucks and buses who usually cross the capital on National Roads 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to park their vehicles in designated locations.
Heavy goods vehicles on National Road 1 must use the car parks near Niroth Pagoda or Chbar Ampov. Buses and tuk-tuks must park near Niroth Pagoda or along Street 369.
For National Road 2, trucks, buses and tuk-tuks should park at Chak Angre Krom or Chak Angre Junior High School, while heavy trucks on Street 217 must stop at Dey Krahorm roundabout.
Drivers of trucks looking to cross the capital from the northwest and northeast provinces must pass the Win-Win Monument, cross the Prek Pnov Bridge and join National Road 5 to reach National Roads 3 and 4.
“Near Phnom Penh International Airport, truck drivers must park at the Chaom Chao parking lot or near the Street 2004 traffic lights. Tuk-tuks must not park beyond the Northbridge school traffic lights,” Sreng wrote.
On National Road 5, truck drivers must divert to travel past the Win-Win Monument or stop at the KM9 car park, while drivers of buses and tuk-tuks must park at Deuk School not beyond Street 68.
For National Road 6, all drivers of heavy trucks must change direction and travel past the Win-Win Monument. Buses and tuk-tuks should park at the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall said heavy trucks on Streets 271 and 371 must park south of the Bridge Mall, while buses and tuk-tuks should stop at Chromos Chruok Kbal Thnol.
Buses, tuk-tuks and heavy trucks entering Veng Sreng Boulevard from Samdech Monireth Boulevard should park at Stung Meanchey Primary School.
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability executive director San Chey said on Thursday that the closures were made every year, but invariably caused problems.
“People living in closed areas always experience difficulties because the police ban them from driving to their homes. Those coming from far away also face problems because it takes longer to reach their destinations.
“People get bored travelling to the festival and fares are often increased. We should make it easier for small vehicles to get around.
“I agree with the decision to ban heavy trucks because there will be a large number of people and large trucks are potentially dangerous.
“During the ban, Phnom Penh Municipal Hall should deploy state buses to transport people in the restricted areas to make it easier for them to join in the celebrations,” Chey said.
