Tsubasa: the Region’s Largest Cable-stayed Bridge Inaugurated

• 31 December 2015
• Local News
• 1248 Views

The Neak Loeung Bridge, or Tsubasa Bridge, was official inaugurated in a ceremony on 6 April, 2015 presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen and H.E. Akihiro Nishimura, Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan.

H.E. Tram Iv Tek, Cambodia’s Minister of Public Works and Transportation stated at the inauguration that the impressive Tsubasa Bridge which spans the lower Mekong River is 2,215 meters long and 13.5 meters wide with 3,185 meters of approach road – 840 meters at western side and 2,345 meters at eastern side.

Tsubasa is the nation’s first and the region’s largest cable-stayed bridge. Construction, which commenced in December 2012 and was completed on 15 March 2015, required 9 Japanese experts, 57 Cambodian engineers, 647 Cambodian workers, and 25 foreign workers.

The Japanese Embassy’s press release described how Tsubasa Bridge is expected to significantly contribute to promoting economic growth and the livelihood development of citizens living along the road through internal, regional, and global integration. As part of ASEAN Highway 1, the road and bridge can help create the opportunities to increase revenue from trade, tourism, industry, agriculture, health, security, and jobs.

“Travel time and transportation costs will be significantly reduced, which provide huge benefits to people and business activities not only for those living along the road and bridge, but also for all Cambodian people and ASEAN countries,” he said.

“In addition, the Japanese government has been providing grant aids for construction of NR.1 from Phnom Penh to Neak Loeung, of which three stages are already completed and the remaining Stage 4 (4 kilometers) will start construction this April,” it added.

The Japanese government has also commenced a feasibility study for a US$2.2 billion expressway project connecting Phnom Penh to Bavet that links to Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City.

“On behalf of the Government of Japan and the Japanese people, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the opening of Tsubasa Bridge, which was built with Japanese grant assistance,” Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe said in his message statement from Japan.

The inclusion of the bridge on Cambodia’s new 500Riel note means the bridge will remain as a symbol of cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked Japan for the continued support to the development of Cambodia and stressed that no matter which party is in power in Japan, the aid to Cambodia continues to come. “Long live Cambodian-Japanese friendship,” he told the crowd of over 8,000 gathered for the inauguration ceremony.

The PM also explained the economic importance of the Tsubasa Bridge as part of a long-term plan to build a road link between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok, via Phnom Penh and Poipet City.

Following the formalities, PM Hun Sen led the assembled crowd on a 1-km walk to the bridge head, where a ribbon was cut and hundreds of red, white and blue balloons were released into the air.