Repairs will begin on the Cambodia-Japanese Friendship Bridge in mid-September under an agreement signed on Tuesday between the Ministry of Public Works and the Obayashi Corporation of Japan.

A grant of about $30 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will fund the repairs.

The bridge, which is more than a half-century old and connects Phnom Penh to Chroy Changvar peninsula, was last renovated in 1994, also with grants from the Japanese government.

The projected renovations aim to repair structural damage to the bridge’s supports. Ministry spokesman Varsim Sorya said yesterday that the project will last between 18 to 24 months.

City Hall spokesman Met Measpheakdey yesterday said cars would be able to travel across the bridge for part of the renovation process.

“The rehabilitation process will be started step by step so the traffic on the bridge will not be banned from the beginning,” he said. “For example when the rehabilitation takes place on the bridge supports, we can allow the traffic flow,” he said.

JICA could not be reached for comment.