(Phnom Penh): Phan Rim, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, told Fresh News on Monday (Nov. 3) that the Cambodia-China Kratie Mekong Friendship Bridge will officially open for public starting from 1 April 2026.
Phan Rim said that the bridge is currently in the final stage of construction, completing the traffic markings and installation of lighting poles, which is expected to be finished before the Khmer New Year 2026. Meanwhile, the construction company will continue to work on the main connecting road and side roads, aiming to complete them ahead of the contract deadline.
As of early November 2025, the Cambodia-China Kratie Mekong Friendship Bridge has achieved 98.36 per cent construction progress, while the overall project, including the bridge, connecting roads, and some related infrastructure that has reached 87.39 per cent completion.
The bridge is located on the eastern side in Talus Village, Bos Leav Commune, Chetr Borei District, and on the western side in Thmar Reab Village, Prek Prasap Commune, Prek Prasap District. It has a width of over 13 metres, consisting of two vehicle lanes (two-way), two motorcycle lanes (two-way), and two pedestrian walkways (two-way), each 1 metre wide, with railings on both sides.
The connecting road is more than 32 kilometres long, comprising a 15-kilometre approach road at the bridgehead, and four urban road sections totalling over 16 kilometres in Kratie town.
These roads are being expanded and upgraded with 7-centimetre-thick asphalt concrete (AC). Among them, four sections covering nearly 27 kilometres are being widened from 9 to 13 metres (roadway width from 11 to nearly 20 metres), while another section of over 5 kilometres is being widened to 19 metres (roadway width 30 metres), featuring a 4-metre green median with planted trees.
The bridge and road infrastructure serve as vital lifelines of the national economy, representing the second core priority among the government’s five strategic focuses, including people, roads, water, electricity, and technology, under the Pentagonal Strategy Phase One. In Phase Two, this priority continues to underscore the importance of transport connectivity and efficiency, positioning the project as a strategic initiative that strengthens links and inspires hope among communities on both sides of the Mekong River. It also boosts regional integration by connecting remote northeastern areas with urban centres, linking Kratie province to Kampong Thom and other major provinces through the national road network.
=FRESH NEWS
