Background
On 16 October 2026 the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) signed construction and supervision contracts for a new Mekong River bridge linking the Mekong Khe development area in Ariyaksetra, Kandal Province, with Koh Norea in Nirouth Sangkat, Chbar Ampov District, Phnom Penh.
The project contracts were executed between the financing company TP Moral Group Co., Ltd., the construction firm Zhejiang Huan Xin Traffic Engineering Co., Ltd., and the technical adviser Zhejiang Institute of Communications Co., Ltd., with Mekong PWT Engineering Co., Ltd. acting as the local partner.
Key Developments
H.E. Peng Poethena, Minister of Public Works and Transport, presided over the signing ceremony and commended the technical teams and participating firms for advancing the project to contract signing. The ceremony listed TP Moral Group as the financier, Zhejiang Huan Xin Traffic Engineering Co., Ltd. as the builder, and Zhejiang Institute of Communications Co., Ltd. as the technical adviser, together with local partner Mekong PWT Engineering Co., Ltd.
Institutional Role
MPWT has positioned the bridge within a broader strategy to strengthen cross-river transport links in the Phnom Penh metropolitan area and to support staged corridor development identified by the government. The minister asked contractors and technical advisers to prioritise construction safety, build quality, independent and transparent execution, and knowledge transfer to Cambodian engineers.
Operational Implications
The bridge is intended to enhance east–west connectivity across the Mekong in the Phnom Penh area and to reduce traffic bottlenecks on existing crossing routes, particularly near the Cambodia–Korea Friendship Bridge. Project proponents state the scheme aims to support urban development and provide economic benefits to populations in eastern Phnom Penh and Kandal Province.
