An expressway project from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville was announced to officially begin construction on March 22, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

After several delays, the $1.9 billion expressway – which has been invested in by the Chinese-owned company Cambodian PPSHV Expressway Co Ltd – will take 48 months to be completed.

The new highway – with a total distance of 190.3km and a width of 24.5m, and two lanes in either direction – will have a garden in its median and barriers on both sides to protect people and animals passing through.

The road, which is under build-operate-transfer project financing, will be completed early in 2023.

According to plans, the road will begin from Phnom Penh’s Tomnup Kob Srov Road and run parallel to National Road 4 in the east until Kampong Speu province’s Chbar Mon town. It will then pass through National Road 4 to the west side until Sihanoukville’s Prey Nop district, before crossing back to the east side of National Road 4.

Ministry of Public Works and Transport spokesman Vasim Sorya on Monday said Prime Minister Hun Sen will attend the project’s groundbreaking ceremony on March 22.

“The route will be built for 48 months by companies from China,” he said.

Sorya said the ministry is still in the process of compensating land owners who will be impacted by the project’s construction.http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business-post-property/sihanoukville-highway-work-begin