Nearly 20 Bridges Have Been Built in 20 Years, Explore The New Face of Cambodia’s Development！

Do you know how many cross-river bridges and cross-sea bridge there are in Cambodia?

Cambodia is located on the Indochina Peninsula and has abundant water resources. It is not only has the major Mekong River-the most important transnational water system in Southeast Asia, but also rivers such as the Bassac River and Tonle Sap River that meander through the land like capillaries. , forming a unique water culture for Cambodia.

At the same time, rivers have also brought many difficulties to Cambodia’s transportation development and affected local economic development. Therefore, bridges are important passages between provinces, cities, and regions in Cambodia. In recent years, the construction of bridges has attracted many public attention. They are also witnesses of the development and changes of Cambodia’s provinces and cities in the past two decades.

Today, Compass real estate will take you to see these bridges and the new face of Cambodia’s development.

‖ Phnom Penh

As the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh has rich riverside resources of the Mekong River, Tonle Sap River and Bassac River. Of course, it also needs more bridges to connect various regions.

At present, there are 7 cross-river bridges in Phnom Penh, and 2 more bridges are planed to be built. From south to north they are:

Prek Pra Bridge (to be built), from Prek Pra area to Aeon 3, on September 17, 2023, Cambodia and China signed an agreement to build the Prek Pra Bridge. China will provide preferential loans for the construction of this bridge. According to the plan, the project is over 800 meters long and the construction is expected to begin within the year.

Monivong Bridge, located on National Roadv 1 in Phnom Penh, crosses the Baise River. It is the oldest cross-river bridge which spans over the Bassac River and was built in 1960. The construction of the new Monivong Bridge began in 2008, standing side by side with the old bridge, and was completed and officially opened to traffic in 2009.

Koh Pich-Koh Norea Bridge is the bridge connects the two satellite cities of Koh Pich and Koh Norea. It was built by the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) , the construction has started October 2020 and officially inaugurated in November 2023. The bridge is approximately 824 meters long and 24.5 meters wide.

Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge (to be built). The construction of the bridge will be divided into two parts – from Night Market to Chroy Changvar area in Phnom Penh and from Chroy Changvar to Arey Ksat area in Kandal province. The project is expected to start construction in 2024 by South Korea providing a preferential loan of US$245 million.

The Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge (Chroy Changvar), is located on National Road 6 that crosses the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh . It is an important passage connecting Doun Penh District and Chroy Changvar District. The bridge was built in 1966 and is about 710 meters long with assistance from the Japanese government.

The Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge (Chroy Changvar) stands side by side with the above mentioned Japanese Bridge. It was built in 2015 and is about 719 meters long  with the assistance from the Chinese government.

Russey Keo Bridge, crossing over the Tonle Sap River and connects the areas of Russey Keo and Chroy Changvar Satellite City in Phnom Penh. It was built by the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) and officially inaugurated in May 2023 with  a total length of 922 meters and a width of 20.5 meters.

Prek Pnov Bridge (Ly Yong Phat Bridge) is spanning the Tonle Sap River and connects Ly Yong Phat Satellite City in Chroy Changvar District and the Prek Pnov District. It was invested and constructed by LYP Group and the official inauguration ceremony was held on 20th September 2010 . The bridge has a total length of 996 meters and a width of 14 meters. In October 2017, the government acquired the Prek Pnov Bridge from LYP Group and canceled the "tolls" collection.

‖ Sihanoukville 

Snake Island Bridge (Koh Puos Bridge), Cambodia's first cross-sea bridge connecting Sihanoukville to Snake Island (Koh Puos) with 900 meters long and 12 meters wide, it was completed and put into use in 2011. It was invested by Russian Koh Puos Investment Group (KPIG) and constructed by a Chinese Company.

‖ Koh Kong Province

Koh Kong Bridge, is the bridge connecting Cambodia and Thai border. It is a cross-sea bridge with a total length of about 1,900 meters, which was opened in 2002 and invested by the LYP Group. It was acquired by the Cambodian government in 2017.

In June 2023, Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia (former Minister of Public Works and Transport), said that the Ministry was studying for the construction of the new Koh Kong Bridge.

‖ Stung Treng Province

Sekong Bridge is a bridge on the Sekong River near the town of Stung Treng, It was built in 2007 by Shanghai Construction Group (SCG) and opened to traffic in April 2008. The bridge is 1,068 meters long and 11 meters wide. 

The Sekong Bridge links Stung Treng Province to National Road No.7  that goes all the way from Skuon to Luang Prabang in Laos. The construction of the bridge was funded by an interest-free loan from the Chinese Government.

Stung Treng Bridge (Mekong Bridge) is a bridge on the Mekong River near the town of Stung Treng with a total length of 1,731 meters. It is located on National Road 9 that links Stung Treng province's rural parts and its provincial town as well as its neighboring Preah Vihear Province and the border of Laos.

Stung Treng Bridge was built by Shanghai Construction Group in 2012 and opened to traffic in April 2015. It is the fourth bridge across the Mekong River in Cambodia.

‖ Kandal Province

Prek Kdam bridge is located on National Road 5 in Kandal Province with a total length of 1,180 meters. It was constructed by Shanghai Construction Group and was completed and opened to traffic in March 2011.

Cambodia-China Friendship Ta Khmau Bridge (Prek Samrong Bridge), with a total length of 825 meters, it is located on National Road 21A in Kandal Province and spans the Bassac River. It was constructed by Shanghai Construction Group. It was completed and opened to traffic in August 2015.

Koh Thom bridge, with a total length of 415 meters, it is located on National Road 6 in Kandal Province and spans the Tonle Bassac River. Koh Thom bridge was built by The China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and was officially Inaugurated on February 13, 2017. 

Koh Thom bridge is the seventh China-Cambodia Friendship Bridge.

Prek Tamak Bridge, located in Khsach Kandal District, Kandal Province, it has a total length of 1,066 meters. Construction started in June 2007 and was officially put into use in January 2011. Prek Tamak Bridge cost approximately US$44 million, with a US$42 million loan assistance from China and US$2.2 million provided by the government.

Tsubasa Bridge, also known as Neak Loeung Bridge is the longest cable-stayed across the Mekong River in Cambodia, with a total length of 2,215 meters. It links Kandal Province with the town of Neak Loeung, Prey Veng Province, and leads to Svay Rieng Province. Construction of the bridge started in February 2011 and was completed in March 2015. It cost approximately US$130 million, of which US$90 million was funded by the Japanese government.

The Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Chrey Thom-Long Binh Bridge was built in 2017. The bridge is about 219 meters long. It is located on Natinal Road 21 in Kandal Province and spans the Bassac River. It was built with assistance from the Vietnamese government.

‖ Kampong Cham Province 

Stueng Trang-Kroch Chhmar Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge, this cross-river bridge connects from Stung Trang District in Kampong Cham Province to Krouch Chhmar District in Tbong Khmum Province, with a total length of 1,131 meters and a width of 13.5 meters. It was officially inaugurated in November 2021, it is the eighth bridge built with China's assistance.

Kizuna Bridge is the first bridge across the Mekong River in Kampong Cham Province, with a total length of 1,500 meters. It was built in 1999 and opened in 2001. The bridge was funded by the Japanese government and it’s image appeared on the 500 Riel Cambodian currency.

‖ Pursat Province

The bridge crossing the Russey Chrum River (under construction) is located in Veal Veng district, Pursat province. This bridge is part of the National Road 10 construction project. 

The bridge measures 90 meters high, 530 meters long and 10 meters wide. It was constructed with preferential loans provided by the Chinese government. The project started in February 2023 and expected to be completed in 2025 and considered to become the tallest bridge in Cambodia.

‖ Kratie Province

The Kratie bridge across the Mekong River (under construction) is an inter-provincial expressway connecting Kampong Thom Province and Kratie Province, it’s constructed by Shanghai Construction Group (SCG).

The Bridge is 1,761 meters long and will become the longest bridge built under China’s financial support. The project officially started construction in January 2023.