Korean Ambassador: S. Korea is studying the Chroy Chongva-Svay Chrom bridge proposal

The South Korean government is currently studying the Chroy Chongva-Svay Chrom bridge project proposed by PM Samdech Hun Sen earlier this year, hoping that the project will become a new diplomatic symbol between Cambodia and South Korea.

Korean ambassador to Cambodia Park Heung-Kyeong said on 1 June that the Korean government is positively considering helping Cambodia with this bridge proposal, as Cambodia has already Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge and Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge.

“At the moment, the Korean government is checking the possibility of Chroy Chongva-Svay Chrom Friendship Bridge project. If the project is approved, it will be first-ever (Korea’s) cable-stayed bridge built in Cambodia and a new symbol of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” said H.E. Park in the Raksemey Kampuchea Daily published on 1 June.

Regarding this matter, spokesman of Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) Vasim Sorya, told Construction Property Magazine on 2 June that to date there have not been any studies jointly conducted between officials of the ministry and the Korean expert team on the bridge project yet.

“At the moment, the ministry [MPWT] allows the Korean side to check the possibility on their budget to construction the bridge first,” H.E. Sorysa said.

H.E. Sorya, however, expressed optimism over this project as it will not only facilitate the traffic for commuters, but this bridge will also link to ring roads in the east of Phnom Penh.

“Generally, building roads and bridges are essential, particularly in Phnom Penh, which have high economic and trade activities. Particularly, with the plan of expanding Phnom Penh city toward the east, there has to be a bridge connecting to those ring roads,” said H.E. Sorya.

The request for the Chroy Chongva-Svay Chrom was proposed by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen during the groundbreaking ceremony of the NR2 construction in February. PM Hun Sen said that the Cambodia government would prioritise this bridge by utilising the US$700 million loan provided by the South Korean government for 2019-2023.

According to Samdech Hun Sen Areiy Ksatr and Svay Chrum, on the east bank of the Mekong River from Phnom Penh, will be a huge satellite city in the future, especially after this bridge becomes a reality.(This news came from Construction-Property.com)