Work on the expansion of National Road 3, connecting Phnom Penh to the coast, began yesterday.

The project tackles the renovation and expansion of the section between Chom Chao commune in Phnom Penh and Kampot city and is being financed by a $200 million concessional loan from the Chinese government.

The project is expected to take two years to complete.

“National road number 3 will become one of the most important roads in Cambodia, especially for tourists and for the transport of goods,” said Prime Minister Hun Sen during the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday.

“The expansion and renovation of the road will not only boost the tourism sector. It will also facilitate transportation to the deep-sea port in Sihanoukville and make it easier to bring salt from Kampot to Phnom Penh,” the premier said.

KHMER TIMES