The Mondulkiri province portion of the Kingdom’s new border ring road is expected to be completed by March 2026. - PPP/ANN
PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s border ring road project has reportedly reached more than 72 per cent completion after just over a year of construction, with Mondulkiri province nearing full delivery by March 2026.
Large-scale landmine clearance has paved the way for further infrastructure development along the north-eastern frontier.
According to a February 2 government press release, the project — funded through the Border Infrastructure Construction Fund — has achieved an overall completion rate of 72.29 per cent since work began in December 2024.
Progress has been uneven across provinces, with Mondulkiri recording 91.2 per cent completion, compared to 51.81 per cent in neighbouring Ratanakiri, where terrain conditions remain more challenging.
The update came as authorities reported the successful clearance of more than 6.04 million square metres of land along the planned road corridor, equivalent to 96.64 per cent of the total area earmarked for demining.
A total of 106 unexploded ordnance items were discovered and removed, including 43 cluster munitions, along with more than a tonne of metal remnants.
Officials said the clearance effort was critical to ensuring the safety of construction teams and surrounding communities, as well as enabling uninterrupted progress on the border road, which runs through remote and previously conflict-affected areas.
Eight engineering units have been deployed to the project, supported by 286 vehicles and heavy machinery. Of them, five units with 200 machines are operating in Mondulkiri, while three units using 86 machines are stationed in Ratanakiri.
Over the past 13 months, construction teams have cleared forest corridors, established road alignments and built the road base across large stretches of the border zone.
Works completed include forest clearance over 241.6 kilometres for initial road access, excavation of road axes over 217.3 kilometres and earthworks — including embankments, drainage channels and slope reduction — across nearly 190 kilometres. Gravel surfacing has been completed on more than 120 kilometres of road.
Supporting infrastructure has also been installed, including 26 box culverts, 244 concrete pipe culverts, 11 water-retention and spillway structures, and a reinforced concrete bridge spanning 18 metres.
Beyond construction, the project has incorporated symbolic and environmental elements, with six fund signage pillars erected along the route and 936 palm seedlings planted as a national emblem along the first border ring road section.
The government said efforts are now focused on completing remaining works in Mondulkiri by March 2026, while accelerating road building and gravel surfacing in difficult terrain in Ratanakiri. Technical inspections and improvements are also ongoing to ensure quality, durability and safety standards are met.
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to transparent and accountable use of the border infrastructure fund, pledging to continue providing regular public updates as construction progresses.
The border ring road project is seen as a key component of Cambodia’s strategy to improve connectivity, enhance security and strengthen state presence in remote border areas, while addressing the lingering legacy of landmines that continue to hinder development decades after conflict. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
