Once the southern section of the National Road 5 Improvement Project is officially launched, Kampong Chhnang province governor Sun Sovannarith expects that it will assist the area in becoming a destination for national and international tourists. Sovannarith made the comments while on an inspection tour with officials and the project team to check progress of construction of the “potters’ statue” at the roundabout in the province’s Prey Khmer village, Rolea Ba’ier commune and district on July 15. Part of the inspection also included planting trees along the twin roads between Kampong Chhnang town and Rolea Ba’ier district’s Chrey Bakk commune. The governor enthused that once completed, the road will improve the environment and make the province more appealing for not only national but also international visitors. “The province has plans for more projects to attract investors, and also urges all road users to respect the traffic law for the safety of all of us,” he said. ChhimPhalla, director of the Department of Road Infrastructure under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport who oversees the National Road No 5 construction, said the improvement project has length of 135.24km The new road stretches from Prek Kdam in Kandal province to Pursat province’s Thla Maorm. It is a four-lane asphalt-concrete road. Construction is planned to take 48 months as a concession financing project from the Japanese government with the Cambodian government contributing. According to the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Administration, there are three bypasses in the province. The first is in Phsar Trach village of Kampong Tralach district’s Longvek commune, on the border of Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces, where a statue of Preah Ko Preah Keo is under construction. The second detour is in Prey Khmer village of Rolea Bier commune and district, at the intersection of Kampong Chhnang town. The third detour is in Pongro commune’s Khvit village of Rolea Ba’ier district where the road leaves Kampong Chhnang town. A statue of a woman potter is being built here.