Wednesday, 24 September 2008

Municipal funding to plug flooded Russey Keo roads

Heng Chivoan; Men drag a trailer through waterlogged Hanoi Road.

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by Chun Sophal
Tuesday, 23 September 2008

The city will spend thousands of dollars to repair the crowded district's notoriously unusable thoroughfares, governor says

THE municipal government will spend about US$500,000 in Phnom Penh Thmey district to repair the Hanoi and 1986 roads, as well as the sewage system running along these streets, which have been damaged by heavy rains and floods.

"We can't let this situation continue any longer," Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema told the Post Monday.

The Hanoi Road, also known as the Cambodian-Vietnam Friendship Highway, runs 15km through Russey Keo district and is notoriously unusable during wet season when the antiquated drainage system blocks up and rain floods the road.

"The purpose of the [project] is to improve the two damaged roads, but we can't complete the project during the rainy season. We expect to finish once the rainy season is over," Kep Chuktema said. "Currently, the road repair has started at the intersection of Russian Federation Boulevard and Hanoi Road."

Damage to the road has been compounded by previously uncompleted construction work, which has left large holes in its surface.

"Some parts of the roads still flood, and travel is difficult, but it will only be for three to four months longer," Kep Chuktema said.

Met Sothida, a resident living along 1986 Road, complained that the flooded byways not only made her travel difficult but also affected her and her children's health. She worried that stagnant water along the two roads would lead to more mosquitoes.

Floods a health problem

"I suggest that the city better prepare its sewage system to prevent floods in the future. This situation does not happen in modern cities," Met Sothida said.

The Hanoi Road was built by the Ministry of Rural Development, and 1986 Road was rebuilt by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and financed by the World Bank. The municipality was not involved in the construction of either road, Kep Chuktema said, but is charged with its maintenance. The new repair work has been given to David Construction Co Ltd.

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