Monivong-Hun Sen Boulevard flyover set to ease congestion
LESS than two years after ground was broken, the first part of Phnom Penh’s largest interchange project – a new flyover connecting Hun Sen and Monivong boulevards – is set to welcome public traffic a little less than two months from now.
The capital’s sixth flyover, the longest ever built, is about 80 per cent complete.
Municipal authorities said they are proposing that the interchange – the capital’s largest, boasting flyovers and underpasses spanning three boulevards including Hun Sen, Monivong and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, better known as Street 271 – be named “Morodok Techo Interchange”.
Phnom Penh governor Khuong Sreng inspected the upper part of the project on January 29.
“The interchange has three levels. We are planning to name it the Morodok Techo Interchange, although I need to propose this to Prime Minister Hun Manet and obtain his final approval. The first part of the project is almost complete and will be open in 74 days. We intend to request that the prime minister approve the flyover be put into temporary use, to reduce traffic congestion,” he said.
While the first section will be completed by the end of March, the final underpass and ramps are expected to enter service in April 2025.
Former Prime Minister Hun Sen broke ground on the mega project in August 2022. The grand interchange will link the triple intersection of Hun Sen, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and Monivong boulevards. It is being built by local conglomerate Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation
(OCIC), at a cost of $36.8 million.
“It is my great pleasure to inform people that this interchange is being constructed by Cambodian architects who graduated from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia [ITC]. It should not be speculated that every bridge in the Kingdom was built by the Chinese. On this project, only a few Chinese experts are involved. We should all be proud that local graduates are responsible for the flyover,” said Sreng.
The governor also hinted that the government is considering constructing another concrete bridge over the Bassac River, one which would connect Meanchey district to Prek Pra commune in Chbar Ampov district.
“This would be beneficial as it would
ease traffic congestion from Prek Pra to Street 271 and connect to the third Ring Road and the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway,” he mused.
Chrek Soknim, president of the Cambodian Valuation and Estate Agents Association (CVEA), applauded the news that the Monivong flyover will be available for use so soon, as well as the suggestion that a new bridge is being planned. He noted that they will reduce traffic jams, but urged the public to respect traffic laws.
“We can all see the efforts the government is making to build new infrastructure and alleviate congestion, but some members of the public do not observe traffic regulations. I urge people to drive on the correct side of the road and refrain from dangerous overtaking,” he said.