The expansion of the National Road 5, an integral highway that is being developed to enhance connectivity between Thailand and Vietnam, is on schedule to commence at the end of 2015.

If everything goes as planned, Chhim Phalla, director of the Ministry of Public Work’s Department of International Cooperation, said that the expansion will be completed by 2020 and will cost approximately $239 million.

“So far, the detailed studies for the project are complete and the preparation procedures for recruiting construction companies are underway. The purpose of the road construction is to connect the southern part of National road 5 to National road 1 in preparation of the ASEAN integration,” he said.

He explained the expansion will be conducted in three phases. The first phase will be expanded from Battambang province to Svay Sey Sopun, Banteay Meanchey. The second phase will be constructed from Prek Kdam Bridge to Pursat province, while the third phase will be constructed from Pursat to Battambang province.

“National road 5 will be bigger, with four lanes and a garden in the middle,” Chhim said, adding that it will also be longer under the present plan.

Currently, national road 5 is about 400 kilometers long.

Heng Sok Kung, secretary of state of the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft, said the government plans to turn the area along the both national road 1 and national road 5 into industrial zones.