Neak Loeung Bridge: 5th anniversary reminds of priceless Cambodia-Japan friendship

• Sommana Yan
• 7 April 2020
• Construction Focus
• 9729 Views

“… When I was present on this bridge, I felt so excited for the beauty of the bridge crossing this beautiful ever-flowing Mekong River…Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Tsubasa Bridge, the memorial of Cambodia-Japan Friendship”, expressed H.E Mikami Masahiro Japanese Ambassador in Cambodia on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the Tsubasa Bridge (Neak Loeung Bridge).

Through the official Facebook page of the Japanese Embassy, H.E Ambassador explained that ” This beautiful word ’Tsubasa’ means ‘bird’ because the whole structure of the bridge looks like a bird’s wings. Figuratively speaking, Tsubasa symbolizes the long-lasting friendship of Cambodia and Japan which will develop as a bird flying above the sky.” H.E Ambassador proclaimed so with a firm hope that the Cambodian people will carefully and lovingly use this friendship bridge for a long time.

Quoted during the construction of the bridge, Mr Chhim Phalla, Director of the Department of Road Infrastructure at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, told the Cambodia Constructions Association that the bridge is 13.5 metres wide and 2,215 metres long.

“After the bridge is open, people’s lives will change and traffic volume will increase rapidly,” said Phalla at the time.
The Tsubasa Bridge, or Neak Loeung Bridge, located in Prey Veng province is the first cable-stayed bridge in Cambodia, and which cost US$130 million, financed via a grant from the Japanese Government and over US$19 million from the Cambodian government budget. The bridge was officially inaugurated on 06 April 2015, and became the longest bridge in Cambodian history.

• Road and Infrastructure