The Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC) will stump up $7 million for a temporary iron bridge across the Tonle Sap river amid renovations to the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge.

Touch Samnang, deputy director of OCIC, told Post Property that the construction of the temporary bridge will begin soon and will connect from the Sokimex Gas Station Area on National Road 5 to the planned Chroy Changvar Satellite City in a bid to ease congestion for commuters during the period of renovation works.

“I think the construction of this bridge will take about seven months, and once done, the bridge will be kept until another huge bridge connecting to Chroy Changvar Satellite city is completed,” Samnang stated.

While Samnang could not pinpoint an exact start date for construction, City Hall spokesman Met Measpheakdey assured construction would start in August, adding that the bridge would extend 700 to 800 metres in length.

The temporary iron bridge will be in place during renovation works of the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge, with the temporary bridge to be replaced later by a larger, permanent bridge, Measpheakdey said.

One side of the old bridge will be closed for two years of renovations, and the temporary bridge is expected to be finished in six to seven months, he said.

Va Simsorya, spokesman for Ministry of Public Works and Transport, estimated renovation works on the Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge to cost up to $30 million.