PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Public Works, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol, has announced a new project to build a Phnom Penh-Siem Reap Expressway, the third expressway project in Cambodia after the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway and the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a new Vehicle Technical Inspection Center in Sen Sok district, Phnom Penh, on Tuesday morning, 20 December, Senior Minister Sun Chanthol revealed that the project to build the Phnom Penh-Siem Reap expressway is undergoing feasibility studies.

He confirmed to reporters that four companies are currently studying the construction of the road, with confidence that the construction of the expressway will reduce travel time from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, and will help boost tourism to Cambodia's ancient temples.

"The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will improve transportation between Thailand and Cambodia as well as between Cambodia and Vietnam,” he said. “The expressway will enhance the transportation of goods and supplies through Cambodia, improving service and lowering transportation costs. It will boost the tourism sector as well because the time needed to travel to Siem Reap will be shorter.”

“The expressway can contribute significantly to improving Cambodia's economy.”

Preliminary operations related to the construction of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, which is expected to be more than 190 km long and cost more than US $2 billion to build, have now begun. In addition, the construction of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will begin in early 2023 after completing feasibility studies and reviews.