KAMPOT – A new road connecting Preah Monivong National Park of Bokor Mountain and National Road 4 in Preah Sihanouk is taking shape, expecting to cut the travelling time from Kampong Speu or Sihanoukville.

The road is 61km long and 20m wide and connects the Sre 100 area of Bokor Mountain in Kampot’s Bokor town to National Road 4 at the 158km pole in Preah Sihanouk’s Kampong Seila district, cutting through the palm oil plantation of tycoon Mong Reththy.

Sre 100 is also the site for the construction of a 108-meter-tall sitting Buddha statue, the highest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Road construction started in 2022. The mountain is one of the main tourism destinations in coastal Kampot and known for its cool weather. 

The road will also facilitate traveling and connections between provinces. 

People from Kampong Seila, Prey Nob of Preah Sihanouk or Sre Ambil districts of Koh Kong province are expected to benefit from the new road as they will be able to visit the national park or Kampot without taking the detour through National Road 3, from Veal Renh in Preah Sihanouk to Kampot.  

Svay Vuthy, head of legal affairs and public relations of mountain top developer Sokha Hotel, told media outlets on May 28 that the road cost $60 million.

“We’ve cleared trees, constructed bridges and sewage along the road,” Vuthy said.

He said paving the way for the new road is complete.

Along with the expressway, those from Phnom Penh will also find it easy to reach Bokor, Vuthy said.

The company is building a new concrete road from the mountain, of which 2.5km percent has been completed. The road will be covered by asphalt later.   

He said that the company is not planning to charge people using the new road. A completion date has not been set as the company is taking into account other factors including the economic situation and marketing advantage.