A Thai-assisted repaving project of an old, disused road in Koh Kong province has been delayed by heavy rains, but will get back on track by November, authorities said this week.
“All the workers are trying to protect the road from the rain because they are afraid it will be damaged,” Koh Kong province Governor Yuth Phouthang said.
The resurfacing of the road with laterite, a type of gravel, is the first step of the project that began in January 2001 and is scheduled to be completed in two years. About 80 percent of the upgrade was completed before the late-season rains stalled work, Yuth Phouthang said.
The 160-km road starts in Sre Ambel district and runs to Koh Kong town. It existed before Cambodia’s years of war, but has since deteriorated.
Thailand has agreed to complete the road and has already spent $2.7 million, sending 300 workers and 231 machines, Minister of Public Works and Transportation Undersecretary of State Uk Chan said.
The second phase of the construction, covering the road with asphalt, will begin when the laterite phase is done, Uk Chan said.
Thai Ambassador Asiphol Chabchigrchaidol said Tuesday his country “will keep our promise to help the road.”
Thailand is already preparing to assess the second phase of the project, the ambassador said. “We sent our officials from the public works department to see the next step of the project and estimate its costs. We don’t know how much money we’ll spend,” he said.
Officials are hoping to get the laterite project back on track by November, finishing Phase I by January, Uk Chan said.
