Construction equipment has finally arrived from Thailand, allowing the government to move forward with its plan to rehabilitate Route 1, Ouk Chan, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Public Works, said Monday.
Construction, which was supposed to have begun in December, was held up while the Thai-owned contractor negotiated the cost of excise duties with the Thai government. Bulldozers, rollers and other equipment arrived Saturday. Construction will begin Feb 15 on the 105-km stretch of road, Ouk Chan said.
At least 300 families along Route 1 will have to be moved, Ouk Chan said. The amount of compensation for each family will be determined by how much they are affected by the move.
The highway project received publicity when Prime Minister Hun Sen attended a groundbreaking ceremony in Neak Loeung, 55 km south of Phnom Penh. The project, funded by the Asian Development Bank, is to be completed in 2003 as the first step toward linking Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Bangkok with a modern highway.
