Background
National roads in Cambodia form part of the country’s core transport infrastructure and connect provinces, production areas, and markets through the national highway network. Road rehabilitation projects typically include pavement works, bridge improvement, drainage structures, and road safety equipment to support long-term transport use and maintenance standards.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport is responsible for the development, supervision, and management of Cambodia’s public road infrastructure. In road construction contracts, a post-completion maintenance or defect liability period is commonly used to verify whether the contractor must address defects before final handover is completed. National Road 41 is a provincial connector that links National Road 4 in Kandal province to National Road 3 in Kampot province, serving movement across Kandal, Kampong Speu, Takeo, and Kampot.
Key Developments
On 12 January 2026, MPWT said Secretary of State Suy San, who also serves as director of the National Road 41 rehabilitation and upgrading project, led a working group to inspect the condition of National Road 41 and conduct a final handover and acceptance process after one year of operation.
The inspection covered the road and associated structures that had been under one year of maintenance, from the junction with National Road 4 in Kandal province to the junction with National Road 3 in Kampot province. According to the ministry, the review examined road surface conditions, structural strength, bridges, drainage culverts, and traffic safety equipment to verify compliance with technical standards, quality requirements, and durability objectives.
MPWT said the mission involved leaders and members of the PMU and PIU, representatives of China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), and staff from the technical consulting company Guangzhou Wanan.
The ministry recalled that the National Road 41 expansion and upgrading project officially broke ground on 30 December 2022 and was officially inaugurated for public use on 29 April 2025.
According to the ministry, the rehabilitation and upgrading project covers a total length of 95.27 kilometers, from Thnal Toteung village, Damnak Ampil commune, Angk Snuol district, Kandal province, at the junction with National Road 4, to Leang village, Leang commune, Dang Tong district, Kampot province, at the junction with National Road 3. The upgraded road is described as an asphalt concrete (AC) road with a thickness of 5 centimeters and a width of 11 meters.
MPWT said the project also included the widening of one existing bridge, Kun Kru bridge, at about 200 meters in length, as well as 185 transverse culverts and longitudinal drainage works totaling 8,241 meters.
Implications
The one-year post-operation inspection and final handover process provides a formal checkpoint on construction quality and maintenance performance for a major interprovincial road corridor. For transport users, freight operators, and local businesses, the review is relevant because it concerns the condition and durability of the road surface, bridge structures, drainage, and safety installations after the initial operating period.
For infrastructure administration, the inspection records the transition from contractor maintenance obligations toward completed project acceptance, subject to the ministry’s technical review. The project’s route between National Road 4 and National Road 3 supports connectivity across multiple provinces and links traffic flows between inland areas and the wider national road network.
Official Source
Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT), Facebook post published on 12 January 2026: inspection of National Road 41 condition and final handover after one year of operation.
