KANDAL: The dream of an ASEAN highway progressed this morning with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway. Prime Minister Hun Sen presided over the ceremony on June 7 and noted that the expressway has been a long-time dream in connecting Thailand to Vietnam, but that there has never been enough investment in the project before now. He said that the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway plays a pivotal role in achieving the One Road vision, as Vietnam has promised to continue the expressway on their side as well, ultimately ending in Ho Chi Minh. The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will be the second expressway in Cambodia with a length of 135 km, and a budget of more than $2 billion USD. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027. Cambodia is currently studying the possibility of a third expressway from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap, for which the Ministry of Public Works and Transport will sign a Memorandum of Understanding this afternoon.