The construction of Phnom Penh’s third ring road is 39.76 per cent complete and is scheduled to be finished late next year, Ministry of Public Works and Transport Vasim Sorya said on Monday.

The road stretches from National Road 4 in Chaom Chao commune’s Champuvorn village in Por Sen Chey district and crosses National Roads 3 and 2 to National Road 1.

It then connects to Phnom Penh Autonomous Port’s new container terminal in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district with an aggregate length of 52.98km and a width of 22m.

The road will have 47.6km with cement pavement and a 5.37km stretch with asphalt paving.

Sorya told The Post that construction is forging on without disruption or delay despite Covid-19.

He said the road will not only provide road freight vehicles an option to skirt the capital’s notorious traffic, but will also serve as the pathway for international economic flow.

Investors will continue to flock in, eyeing spaces along the road to set up factories, industrial parks and other projects, he said, adding that time and money will be saved in goods transport.

“This road will provide many benefits for the national economy and the people,” Sorya said.

Investors have long complained about inefficient transport infrastructure networks in the Kingdom which lead to steep export costs compared to neighbouring countries.

Cambodia Logistics Association (CLA) president Sin Chanthy said dry ports and transport companies clustering in and near the capital have heavily contributed to traffic congestion.

He said the road would upgrade the Kingdom’s transport sector to another level and slash transportation costs.

Chanthy said: “I figure that after the road officially launches dry ports, transport companies and special economic zones will sprout up beside it.”

The faster and more cost-effective transport options will sharpen the competitive edge of the Kingdom’s exports, he said.

The road broke ground in January last year at a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen.