The Expressway network of Cambodia currently consists of one expressway in operation, one expressway under construction, and one under feasibility study. The government has noted three goals for developing an expressway network:[1]
- Regional Integration with neighboring countries
- Linking the wealthier Phnom Penh with other cities to let other provinces benefit from the development
- Improving transportation in Cambodia, reducing congestion and allowing more suitable roads for heavy trucks
Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway
The first expressway, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, is funded by the China Road and Bridge Corporation for US$2 billion under a build-operate-transfer contract.[2]
The road has two lanes in each direction and will have a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) for light vehicles, 100 km/h (62 mph) for two axle trucks, buses and motorcycles and 80 km/h (50 mph) for shipping containers truck with a minimum speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) for all vehicles.[3] This will allow the travel time between the two terminal cities to be halved from 6 hours.[4]
The road will be opened to the public starting on October 1, 2022, until October 31, 2022, under a one-month trial free of charge.[5]
Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway
On November 9, 2022,[6] Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has signed a memorandum of understanding to build the 138 km Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway.
The second expressway, the Phnom Penh-Bavet being studied and planned by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, and expected to start construction in June 2023.[7] The expressway will have a length of 138 kilometers, with width of 25.5 meters, consist of 4 lanes (2 lanes a side).
Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway is expected to booster the transportation and import-export between Cambodia and Vietnam and reduce the transportation cost and time between the two countries.
On June 7, 2023, Samdech Hun Sen officially announced and presided over the ground-breaking ceremony of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway with the length of 135.10 km.[8] The expressway's construction is set to be carried out by the esteemed China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), adhering to a 48-month timeline and scheduled for completion in 2027.
Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Poi Pet Expressway
On March 28, 2023, Ministry of Public Works and Transport announce in a letter to related-provincial authorities on the feasibility study of Phnom Penh Siem Reap Expressway.[9] The announcement was met with great reception from the public as Siem Reap is one of the most popular tourist destination for Cambodians and National Road 6 is currently one of the most of traffic and congested road in Cambodia due to its crossing many populated provinces such as Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Siem Reap.
In tandem with presiding over the ground breaking ceremony for PP-Bavet Expressway, Samdech Hun Sen also announced the feasibility of the highly anticipated Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Poi Pet Expressway,[10] a massive project which touted to be cost somewhere around $4 billion.[11] The Phnom Penh-Siem Reap-Poipet Expressway Project is Cambodia's third expressway project that will pass through five capital-provinces, including Phnom Penh, Kandal, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom and Siem Reap, with approximately total length of 400 kilometers.
