Construction of a temporary bridge aimed at easing traffic congestion while Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar bridge undergoes renovations will begin next month, City Hall spokesman Met Measpheakdey said on Sunday.
“The traffic there is already very bad, so when they stop the traffic to renovate the bridge, there might be more bad traffic,” he said.
The new, metal bridge would be built 2 km north in Russei Keo district, he said. Construction would take six months, so the new bridge would not be finished before Chroy Changvar bridge closes in August to allow renovation to start on one side.
Construction costs of the new bridge would be met by the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, Mr. Measpheakdey said, while the Chroy Changvar bridge renovation would be paid for by the Japanese government, the bridge’s original funder.
Chroy Changvar bridge is also known as the “Japanese Friendship Bridge.” He did not know the budget for either project, referring questions to Sun Chanthol, the public works and transport minister, who could not be reached.
