Cambodia's National Road 4 (Source: camsocial.news)Hanoi (VNA) - The World Bank (WB) has pledged to provideCambodia with a 110-million-USD credit to improve the condition, safety andclimate resilience of National Road 4, one of the key national highways in thecountry.
The funding will come from the International Development Association,the WB’s fund for the poorest countries, the bank’s statement said, adding thatit is a credit without interest, with a final maturity of 38 years, including agrace period of six years.
Sovicheano Pheng, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Public Works andTransport, said that Cambodia's economic development relies on National Road 4,as it is the only road connecting the economic centre of the country to thedeep seaport of Preah Sihanouk.
Improvement of the key corridor will reduce travel time and logisticcosts, which would help Cambodia's economy to be more competitive in theregion, he added.
Connecting the capital city of Phnom Penh with Cambodia's only deep-seaport in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province, National Road 4 endures heavytraffic through several economic zones and rich agricultural areas includingsome large-scale farms, the statement said.
With the credit, the more-than-200-km road will be upgraded with anoverlay of asphalt concrete, shoulders will be replaced and drains and bridgeswill be built along flood prone areas.
In addition to introducing innovative road designs that include climateproofing, the financing will upgrade existing weighing stations and reduce therisk of overloading.
Road safety will be prioritised, through the installation of speed-limitzoning, safety corridors and feeder road improvements that include guide-signs,solar powered lights and speed cameras.-VNA
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