PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Public Works and Transport, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol, led a team to inspect the technical specifications of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway at night to ensure all safety standards were met, such as the proper installment of reflectors and lighting, on Cambodia's first expressway.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday night, 22 September, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol said that the inspection was being conducted to make sure that the expressway is safe for drivers both in the day and at night.

"We [inspect the road] together to see if there are, or are not enough reflectors," he said. "Some people are worried that not having street lights will be dangerous, but no! If your car has the right lights and you obey the traffic rules, look at the right signs and drive at the right speed in accordance with the road design, then you will have no problem!"

The Senior Minister assessed the expressway to be reliable and of a high quality standard.

The brand-new Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway is over 190 km long, and connects Village 1, Sangkat Samrong Krom, Khan Por Senchey in Phnom Penh to Village 1, Sangkat 3 in Sihanoukville.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the expressway was held on 22 March 2019, with an investment from the China Bridge and Road Corporation (CRBC) through Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co., Ltd. Constructing the expressway required a total investment spending of about US $2 billion, of which US $150 million was provided through grants from the Chinese government.

The new expressway passes through 8.3 km of Phnom Penh, 9.1 km of Kandal, 80.8 km of Kampong Speu, 1.92 km of Koh Kong, and 89.89 km of Sihanoukville.

According to the Minister of Public Works and Transport, drivers can use the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway free-of-charge for the whole month of October, and the expressway toll fee will only start being applied in November.