by Reinhard Hohler Chiang Mai

According to media sources in PHNOM PENH, Cambodia will kick off the construction of a bridge on the trans-ASEAN road route on February 12, Vietnam News Agency  (VNA) reported. The plan was revealed by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday at the inauguration ceremony for a hospital in Kampong Cham Province. The Neak Loeung bridge is designed to become the largest and longest in Cambodia with a width of 13.5m and a length of 2.2 km.
It will span the Mekong River to connect Cambodia’s Kandal and Prey Veng provinces with Ho Chi Minh City in Viet Nam. Estimated to cost around US$131 million, it is expected to be completed in  2015 to facilitate travels and transportation between Cambodia and other ASEAN member countries, especially Viet Nam.