The Ministry of Public Works and Transport has said the construction of the bridge across the Bassac River via Anloung Chen Island in Kandal province was 97 per cent finished with completion scheduled for October. “The bridge across the Bassac River under the third ring road construction project was 97.25 per cent complete,” the ministry posted on July 4. The ministry said the 1km bridge across the river that passes over Anloung Chen Island has two sections. From the east, it is 630m long and 25m wide and was 95 per cent complete. This section will be finished in October. “From the west, it is 366m long and 25m wide and was 99 per cent finished, and is scheduled for completion in September,” it said. Ships measuring 45m long by 8m wide can pass under the bridge from the east and ships measuring 30m by 5m can pass under the bridge from the west. Ministry spokesman Chan Dara could not be reached for comment on July 4. The third ring road construction project spans 53km starting from National Road 4 in Chompouvoan village of Por Sen Chey district’s Chaom Chao III commune to National Road 1 in Dei Ith commune’s Sdau Kanlaeng village in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district and in Kandal Leu village in the district’s Banteay Dek commune. The third ring road will also connect Kob Srov Lake road of National Road 5 to the Win-Win Monument, Win-Win Boulevard and National Road 6. “The third ring road will become a big and modern connecting road for transport, detouring traffic from Phnom Penh to national roads 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 21 across the Bassac River as well as Anloung Chen Island to National Road 1,” the ministry said. It said the third ring road will also connect to the new container terminal known as LM17 at the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port located in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district and connect to the ASEAN highway and main transport corridors in the Mekong sub region. The ministry continued that the project was expected to cost nearly $268 million in grants from the Chinese government and funds from the Cambodian government. It is projected to take four years for the road to be constructed, starting from December 2018 to December 2021. It said the third ring road will help reduce traffic jams and accidents and facilitate the movement of Phnom Penh residents. The government has been widening roads as the capital develops and the population grows.