Construction on the long-awaited Nak Loeung bridge borke ground over the weekend to bolster cross-border traffic and business between the Kingdom and neighboring Vietnam, Prime Minister Hun Sen said at the ground breaking ceremony. The 2.2 km-long bridge will span the Mekong river at Nak Loeung town, connecting Kandal and Prey Veng provinces, as well as directly linking Phnom Penh and Ho Chim Minh City by road. A grant from the Japanese government will cover the costs of the $131 million project, which is expected to finish construction in 2015.
“This is Cambodia’s benefit. And the benefit of the people here after it is completed.” Mr Hun Sen told onlookers and officials attending the ceremony on the banks of Mekong. “With the investment at Nak Loeung in this special zone, Cambodia will blossom.” The premier said the bridge would improve traffic flow on National Road 1, which often bottlenecks at the river crossing, as well as facilitate business using the roadway. Two ferries currently service the heavily traveled crossing and will be discontinued once the bridge is constructed.
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