Background
On 9 January 2023, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) held a ceremony in Kampong Cham province to announce the start of construction for the expansion and quality upgrading of a section of National Road 7. The event was presided over by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, with participation from the Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Cambodia, representatives of relevant ministries and institutions, provincial authorities, and local residents.
The project concerns a key section of National Road 7, which forms part of the Asian Highway AH11 and serves as an important economic transport corridor. The initiative aims to improve capacity, safety, and service standards along this strategic route.
Scope of Application
The project covers approximately 45.48 kilometers of National Road 7, starting from the Skun roundabout in Cheung Prey district, Kampong Cham province, to the roundabout at the Kizuna bridge in Kampong Cham city. Within this section, the works include pavement upgrading, lane widening, bridge construction and expansion, drainage improvements, and installation of traffic management and safety facilities.
Key Provisions or Decisions
According to the announcement by the Senior Minister and Minister of Public Works and Transport, the main technical and construction components of the project include:
- Upgrading the roadway to an asphalt concrete (AC) pavement with a thickness of 9 centimeters along the 45.48 km section.
- Widening the main carriageway from two lanes to four lanes, with each lane having a width of 3.75 meters.
- Constructing a central median (road divider) with a width of 1.5 meters.
- Constructing one new bridge with a length of 40 meters and a width of 24 meters.
- Constructing six additional new bridges with a total combined length of 106 meters and a width of 12 meters.
- Widening one existing bridge to a width of 10.5 meters.
- Installing a total of 330 culverts of various types along the section.
- Installing two vehicle speed monitoring camera locations.
- Installing two intelligent and automatic Weigh-in-Motion (AI and Weigh-in-Motion) weighing stations for overloaded transport vehicles.
- Equipping the road with traffic signs, road markings, kilometer posts, and safety posts in accordance with road engineering standards.
The Senior Minister underlined that National Road 7 is an important national and regional transport artery, and that the project is intended to enhance the road’s role as a major economic lifeline.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The expansion and upgrading of this section of National Road 7 are expected to improve traffic flow and transport reliability between Skun and Kampong Cham city. For businesses and logistics operators, the four-lane configuration and improved pavement quality can reduce travel time and vehicle operating costs, while the upgraded bridges and drainage structures support heavier and more consistent traffic.
The installation of speed monitoring cameras and intelligent Weigh-in-Motion systems indicates stronger control of speeding and overloaded vehicles along this corridor. Transport companies and freight operators using this route may need to pay closer attention to compliance with legal weight limits and traffic regulations, as enforcement capacity will be strengthened through automated systems.
Local communities along the road section are likely to experience changes in traffic volumes and patterns, with associated impacts on road safety and access that will depend on adherence to the newly installed traffic signs and markings.
Official Source
The information is based on an official announcement by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) published via its verified communication channels on 9 January 2023.
