2.3 Cambodia Road Assessment
Overview
Roads are the dominant mode of transportation in Cambodia, accounting for 65% of freight movement and 87% of passenger’s traffic. Cambodia is in the middle of a road-construction and rehabilitation frenzy as the country seeks to facilitate faster transportation within and between its provinces. During Covid-19 borders closure, several major road construction projects were undertaken by the Cambodian government and partners in Siem Reap, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong and other provinces.
Two expressways are also being developed to serve the growing extent of economy and trade. The first line will lead from the capital Phnom Penh to the coastal Preah Sihanouk province with a total length of 230 km, 65% is already completed and due to open in 2023. The second one will lead from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with a total length of 213 km and contract is under negotiation.
Maintenance is also being addressed by the competent authorities as a priority. Relating to the road transport, there are three competent authorities for the management of roads infrastructure:
- The Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) is the competent authority for the transport sector in the Kingdom of Cambodia and manages the expressways, national roads, provincial roads. Under the MPWT there are two main Directorates related to national and provincial road transport.
- The Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) is the competent authority to manage rural roads and other roads as assigned by the Royal Government.
- The sub-national administration is the competent authority to manage roads within the capital, cities, provincial urban through the assignment of duties from the MPWT and the MRD and approved by the Royal Government.
For further details, please go to www.mpwt.gov.kh and www.mrd.gov.kh.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.
Distance Matrix
|
Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km) |
||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Phnom Penh |
Battambang |
Ban Lung |
Siem Reap |
Sihanoukville |
Svay Rieng |
Preah Vihear |
Poi Pet |
|
|
Phnom Penh |
291 |
516 |
314 |
230 |
122 |
419 |
410 |
|
|
Battambang |
291 |
610 |
173 |
512 |
413 |
342 |
119 |
|
|
Ban Lung |
516 |
610 |
448 |
734 |
444 |
400 |
600 |
|
|
Siem Reap |
314 |
173 |
448 |
544 |
427 |
232 |
156 |
|
|
Sihanoukville |
230 |
512 |
734 |
544 |
352 |
631 |
640 |
|
|
Svay Rieng |
122 |
413 |
444 |
427 |
352 |
534 |
532 |
|
|
Preah Vihear |
419 |
342 |
400 |
232 |
631 |
534 |
|
317 |
|
Poipet |
410 |
119 |
600 |
156 |
640 |
532 |
317 |
|
|
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (hours) |
||||||||
|
Phnom Penh |
Battambang |
Ban Lung |
Siem Reap |
Sihanoukville |
Svay Rieng |
Preah Vihear |
Poi Pet |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Phnom Penh |
5 |
8 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
6 |
7-8 |
|
|
Battambang |
5 |
13 |
2 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
|
|
Ban Lung |
8 |
13 |
10 |
14 |
14 |
6 |
10 |
|
|
Siem Reap |
5 |
2 |
10 |
11 |
8 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
Sihanoukville |
4 |
8 |
14 |
11 |
7 |
10 |
12 |
|
|
Svay Rieng |
3 |
7 |
14 |
8 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
|
|
Preah Vihear |
6 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
9 |
6 |
|
|
Poi Pet |
7-8 |
3 |
10 |
3 |
12 |
11 |
6 |
|
Road Security
Road traffic fatalities remain the most common cause of death in Cambodia. In 2019, Cambodia saw almost 13,700 injuries and more than 2,000 deaths due to traffic accidents – with an average of 5.4 people dying daily.
Cambodia’s lead agency, National Road Safety Committee (NRSC), is funded by the national budget, and has a road safety strategy which is partially funded. The functions of the agency include coordination, legislation and monitoring and evaluation of road safety strategies.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-road-traffic-law-drafted
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
Overloading is considered the main cause of roads damages in Cambodia and is an issue which the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has increasingly tackled over the past years by increasing weighbridges and control so current regulations and load limitations are respected but remains a challenge.
|
Axle load limits |
Cambodia |
|
a. Maximum weight on the sustaining axle |
|
|---|---|
|
Single Axle with 4 wheels |
6 MT |
|
Single Axle with 4 wheels |
10 MT |
|
Twin Axles with 8 wheels |
19 MT |
|
Triple Axles adjacent to each other’s twelve wheels |
24 MT |
|
b. Permitted maximum total weight |
|
|
Truck with 2 Axles |
16 MT |
|
Truck with 3 Axles |
25 MT |
|
Truck with 4 Axles |
30 MT |
|
c. Limitation of permitted maximum total weight of automobile with trailers |
|
|
Trailers with 4 Axles |
35 MT |
|
Trailers with 5 Axles onwards |
40 MT |
|
d. Limitation of permitted maximum weight of automobile with semi-trailers |
|
|
Semi-trailers with 4 Axles |
35 MT |
|
Semi-trailers with 5 Axles onwards |
40 MT |
All vehicle axle loads as specified shall bear a pressure on the road of no more than 5kg/cm2.
Road Class and Surface Conditions
The road network of 61,810 kms is classified as follows:
- Paved: 15,000 km (Portland cement concrete, Asphalt concrete, Double Bituminous Surface treatment)
- Unpaved: 46,810 km (Nov. 2021)
|
Classification |
Description |
Comments |
|
National Roads 11.74% (under MPWT) |
9 roads (1 digit) 2254 km 66 roads (2 digits) 5,007 km with 984 bridges (26,535 m) |
1-digit: Connecting Cambodia to borders of GMS Countries and ASEAN highways. 2-digit: Junction road network connecting from main road network to provinces/cities and borders. |
|---|---|---|
|
Provincial Roads 15.06% (under MPWT) |
551 roads (3 & 4 digit) 9,308 km, with 904 bridges (16,309 m) |
Connecting 1-digit and 2-digits national roads to urban towns or cities in the provinces. |
|
Rural Roads 73.20% (under MRD) |
15,658 roads, 45,241 km |
Connecting from the urban towns, districts, cities or khans to communes or Sangkats and from villages to villages. |
|
Expressway (under MPWT) |
1 line, 190 km |
Phnom Penh−Sihanoukville Expressway 4 traffic lanes |
|
City/Urban/ streets |
13,355 lines |
|
Additional information:
Potential transport disruption due to long National Holiday:
There is no experience of any delayed due to long National Holiday due to Government entity and private sector strictly control their movement for example port operation there is a rotation shift of staff during the holiday ensure continuity of port activities as well as private sector follow Government policies by pay double or triple if employee working during the weekend.
Potential of road damage caused by flood and or during raining season:
Operations of these dams in the mainstream on the Upper Mekong Basin have stirred many concerns from the Lower Mekong Basin communities on how these dams will impact their river and livelihoods. A total of 12.65 billion cubic meters of water was discharged from the Jinghong hydropower reservoir during the period of March to May 2016. These releases amounted to between 40 – 89% of flows along various sections of the Mekong River. The emergency water supplement increased water level or discharge along the Mekong mainstream to an overall extent of 0.18-1.53m or 602-1,010m3/s.
If these emergency releases did not occur, flows would have been 47% lower at Jinghong, 44% lower at Chiang Saen, 38% lower at Nong Khai and 22% lower at Stung Treng. This additional flow has also alleviated salinity intrusion in the Mekong Delta.
In addition, Loa also build another dam called Dorn Sahong to produce hydropower reservoir which result lower Mekong basin.
Source:https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/energy/what-are-the-impacts-of-dams-on-the-mekong-river/
Two dams above resulted lower Mekong basin, lead to chance of flood by review is very low. In Cambodia from last 10 years back never faced Mekong River flood the only short-term flood cause by rainwater during rain season especially between October-November in the west region in the country example Banteay Meanchey, Odor Meanchey, Siem Reap, Battembang. Due to flood cause by rain does not take long so, the country transportation facing lit issue on in the effect area.
2.3.1 Cambodia Border Crossing of Poipet
Overview
The border is one of ten international crossings points along the borders with Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Cambodia and Thailand are planning to open four new border crossings in four provinces as part of a move to increase trade between the two countries. Most goods transfer between Thailand and Cambodia over land via trucks. Cambodia is trying to expand trade with Thailand, the new points will include an international gateway called Anses, connecting Preah Vihear with Thailand’s Ubon Rachathani. Another crossing called Phnom Dei checkpoint will border Cambodia’s Battambang province and Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province. The third gateway is called Thmo Da border crossing between Cambodia’s Pursat province and Trat province of Thailand. The fourth crossing is Chub Koki, connecting Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey province and Thailand’s Buri Ram province.
A border crossing between Cambodia Lao is remote border crossing at Trapaing Kreal it taking about 40 minute car ride from Stung Treng town, detail information available below.
The border crossing gateways at Anses and Phnom Dei will be completed soon. However, due to COVID19 most of the corridors remain closed truck allow pass and transfer goods at the main corridor such as Poipet etc.
|
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Name of Border Crossing |
Cambodia: Poipet |
|
Province or District |
O Chrov District |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Serey Sophone (48 km) |
|
Latitude |
13.6598 |
|
Longitude |
102.5526 |
|
Managing Authority / Agency |
Provincial Governorate |
|
Contact Person |
Mr Chhe Sothea, Chief of Customs Branch in Bantey Meanchey Province |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Siem Reap Airport (135 km) Truck Travel Time: 2:20 hrs Car Travel time: 1:30 hrs |
|
Nearest Port |
Phnom Toch (Tonle Sap) river port (142 km) Truck Travel Time: 2:45 hrs Car Travel time: 1:50 hrs |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
A Kak Market (1 km) Truck Travel Time: 10 minutes Car Travel time: 5 minutes |
|
Other Information |
Fuelling stations or weighting bridges are available |
|
Hours of Operation |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Mondays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
Tuesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
Wednesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
Thursdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
Fridays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
Saturdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
Sundays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
|
National Holidays
|
Follow the Government schedule. Schedule as below link. |
|
|
Seasonal Constraints |
No seasonal constraints |
|
| Border Crossing Location and Contact | |
|---|---|
| Name of Border Crossing | Cambodia: Trapaeng Kreal Lao: Nong Nok Khiene |
| Province or District | Stung Treng |
| Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing | Serey Sophone (48 km) |
| Latitude | 13.9212601 |
| Longitude | 106.0292476 |
| Managing Authority / Agency | Provincial Governorate |
| Contact Person | Hak Vannak custom brand in Trapaeng Kreal border crossing. |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Name: Stung Treng aiport (15 km) Truck Travel Time: 50 minutes Car Travel time: 30 minutes |
|
Nearest Port |
Name: No port. |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Name: Stung Treng Market (1.5 km) Truck Travel Time: 10 minutes Car Travel time: 5 minutes |
|
Other Information |
Fueling stations or weighting bridges are available |
|
Hours of Operation |
|
|---|---|
|
Mondays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Tuesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Wednesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Thursdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Fridays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Saturdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Sundays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
National Holidays
|
Follow the Government schedule. Schedule as below link. |
|
Seasonal Constraints |
No seasonal constraints |
To travel from Sihahouk Ville sea port to Trapaeng Kreal border crossing with Lao, as per map direction, they need to travel from Sihanouk Ville port through National Road no.4 pass Phnom Penh city will take around 7 hours, from Phnom Penh use National Road no.6 by crossing Kampong Cham, Tboung Khmum and Kratie Province to reach Stung Treng where the border crossing is located. Please see the green line in the map.
Daily Capacity
Poipet border crossing point is the busiest trade route where passenger, cart pullers and trucks meet and use to be congested so new border points were being opened prior to Covid.
For Trapaeng Kreal border crossing not the busy border like Poipet. There are some local business exchange activities happened between two countries along border.
Customs Clearance
Border crossing procedures between both countries apply to rules and regulation of each country. In non-conflict times, there is are no major delays in custom clearance procedures if transporter/consignee complete the documentation as described below.
After the Customs Permit and relevant ministries approval are obtained in Phnom Penh, the customs clearance procedure at border crossing are as follows:
- Entering the customs declaration
- Running the customs formalities
- Request the police cargo release note
- Request the customs cargo release note
Documents requirements:
- Transport Note/Bill Trucking
- Commercial Invoice or WFP No Charge Invoice
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
- Certification of Health
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Others
For more information on customs in Cambodia, please see the following link: 1.3 Cambodia Customs Information.
Other Relevant Information
Trade facilitation had much improved the time of clearance at the border but following COVID-19 border restrictions, Thai trucks are currently not allowed to move out of the dry ports within 10 kms from the border where they get discharged. Monitoring of the situation shall be done regularly.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Cambodia Government Contact List.
2.3.2 Cambodia Border Crossing of Bavet
Overview
|
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Name of Border Crossing |
Cambodia: Bavet |
|
Province or District |
Svay Rieng Province |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Svay Rieng Town (25 km) |
|
Latitude |
11.0735 |
|
Longitude |
106.1660 |
|
Managing Authority / Agency |
Provincial Governorate |
|
Contact Person |
Mr Khiev Saroeun, Chief of Customs Branch in Svay Rieng Province |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Name: Phnom Penh International Airport (178 km) Truck Travel Time: 4:50 hrs Car Travel time: 3:50 hrs |
|
Nearest Port |
Name: Phnom Penh Port (171 km) Truck Travel Time: 4:50 hrs Car Travel time: 3:30 hrs |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Name: Svay Rieng Market (25 km) Truck Travel Time: 25 hrs Car Travel time: 15 hrs |
|
Other Information |
Fueling stations are available |
|
Hours of Operation |
|
|---|---|
|
Mondays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Tuesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Wednesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Thursdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Fridays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Saturdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Sundays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
National Holidays
|
Follow the Government schedule. Schedule as below link. |
|
Seasonal Constraints |
No seasonal constraints |
Daily Capacity
Bavet / Moc Bai border crossing point is on the busiest trade route for Cambodia with Vietnam.
Customs Clearance
Border crossing procedures between both countries apply national rules and regulations and follow bilateral, ASEAN and GMS agreements. In non-conflict times, there is are no major delays in custom clearance procedures if transporter/consignee complete the documentation as described below.
After the Customs Permit and relevant ministries approval are obtained in Phnom Penh, the customs clearance procedure at border crossing are as follows:
- Entering the customs declaration
- Running the customs formalities
- Request the police cargo release note
- Request the CAMCONTROL cargo release note
- Request the customs cargo release note
Documents requirements:
- Transport Note/Bill Trucking
- Commercial Invoice or WFP No Charge Invoice
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
- Certification of Health
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Other
For more information on customs in Cambodia, please see the following link: 1.3 Cambodia Customs Information.
Other Relevant Information
Trade facilitation had much improved the time of clearance at the border but following COVID-19 border restrictions, Vietnam trucks are currently not allowed to move out of the free zone where they get discharged. Monitoring of the situation shall be done regularly.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Cambodia Government Contact List.
2.3.3 Cambodia Border Crossing of Trapeng Kreal
Overview
|
Border Crossing Location and Contact |
|
|---|---|
|
Name of Border Crossing |
Cambodia: Trapeng Kreal Laos: Nong Nok Khiene |
|
Province or District |
Stung Treng |
|
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Border Crossing |
Serey Sophone (48 km) |
|
Latitude |
13.9212601 |
|
Longitude |
106.0292476 |
|
Managing Authority / Agency |
Provincial Governorate |
|
Contact Person |
Hak Vannak custom brand in Trapaeng Kreal border crossing. |
|
Travel Times |
|
|---|---|
|
Nearest International Airport |
Stung Treng Airport (15 km) Truck Travel Time: 50 minutes Car Travel time: 30 minutes |
|
Nearest Port |
N/A |
|
Nearest location with functioning wholesale markets, or with significant manufacturing or production capacity |
Stung Treng Market (1.5 km) Truck Travel Time: 10 minutes Car Travel time: 5 minutes |
|
Other Information |
Fueling stations or weighting bridges are available |
|
Hours of Operation |
|
|---|---|
|
Mondays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Tuesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Wednesdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Thursdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Fridays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Saturdays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
Sundays |
07:30 – 11:30 a.m. 01:30 – 05:00 p.m. |
|
National Holidays
|
Follow the Government schedule. Schedule as below link. |
|
Seasonal Constraints |
No seasonal constraints |
Daily Capacity
the Trapaeng Kreal border crossing is not a busy border like Poipet. There are some local business exchange activities happened between two countries along the border.
Customs Clearance
Border crossing procedures between both countries apply to rules and regulation of each country. In non-conflict times, there is are no major delays in custom clearance procedures if transporter/consignee complete the documentation as described below.
After the Customs Permit and relevant ministries approval are obtained in Phnom Penh, the customs clearance procedure at border crossing are as follows:
- Entering the customs declaration
- Running the customs formalities
- Request the police cargo release note
- Request the customs cargo release note
Documents requirements:
- Transport Note/Bill Trucking
- Commercial Invoice or WFP No Charge Invoice
- Packing List
- Certificate of Origin
- Certification of Health
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Other
For more information on customs in Cambodia, please see the following link: 1.3 Cambodia Customs Information.
Other Relevant Information
Trade facilitation had much improved the time of clearance at the border but following COVID-19 border restrictions, Thai trucks are currently not allowed to move out of the dry ports within 10 kms from the border where they get discharged. Monitoring of the situation shall be done regularly.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Cambodia Government Contact List.