Upgrades to National Road 1 are expected to be completed by March 2017, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

The Ministry on its official Facebook page said work to expand a 4-kilometre section of the road from Monivong Bridge to Kdey Takoy pagoda, which started in 2015, was about 60 per cent complete.

“The renovation of this road will benefit the economic sector for our people who have struggled and have been faced with many difficulties lately,” Minister Sun Chanthol said. During a site visit, Chanthol urged nearby house owners to cooperate with authorities to help speed the process.

The renovation has caused congestion, with up to 3,000 vehicles travelling through the area every day. The road work is being funded as part of a $221 million investment from Japan.