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Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 6:40 pm
by doktor_d
There's some heavy construction going on @ National Road 6A all the way out to the Prek Ta Meak bridge. Looks like they're planning to make a six lane highway or something.

Anyone planning on going that way in the near future should keep this in mind.

National Road 8 is still in great shape though. And should get you on your way(from the Prek Ta Meak bridge) to Kampong Cham or Prey Veng in no time.

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 6:12 pm
by Bitte_Kein_Lexus
I take it you haven't driven that way these past two years? ;-) Yeah they extended 15m each side. Sucks for the house owners (but they were compensated for both trees and dwellings) but it was bound to happen and it'll be Cambodia's first actual highway once it's done. Looks huge in parts (enough for 6 lanes as you say), but I doubt they'll make it that big. Probably 4 lanes+ 2 smaller shoulders for motorbikes (which hopefully won't be covered in gravel). There's going to be a separating "lane" between the two directions for at least part of it which you can currently see right out of Phnom Penh. I've seen them extended it a bit over the months. Not having people swerve into your lane will be nice, but I don't understand why they don't do a western-style highway with a ditch between the two directions. The whole highway should be done in 2 years.

I've avoided that area for 2 years, but if I have to go there, I take the ferry to Arek Sak, then drive on the newly paved road (usually completely empty) all the way to Prek Tak Meak bridge, but I fear as construction progresses, even doing that won't save you from the dustbowl. Still, a little "secret" worth knowing if you need to take HWY 6. And yeah, HWY#8 is great and somehow doesn't seem to get much traffic, but that's maybe because of the time of day I usually use it, I dunno. Always seems empty.

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 6:57 pm
by Username Taken
doktor_d wrote:There's some heavy construction going on @ National Road 6A all the way out to the Prek Ta Meak bridge.
Goes beyond the Prek Ta Meak bridge turn. Was out that way recently, perhaps 5 to 10 Km beyond there and it's terrible.
The road, where I was, is now very wide and flat, and covered with red dust. Lexiis were flying along this long straight stretch stirring up a huge dust bowl reducing visibility to less than 100m. You could hear cars coming long before you could see them.

The area from Chroy Changvar bridge to Prek Leap and a little beyond are nearing completion making travelling a much nicer experience.

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 7:13 pm
by StroppyChops
There's a decent sized pothole just outside our apartment...

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:20 pm
by rick o'shea
I road bike quite a bit, and regularly use highway 1, the highway to kampot, and soon highway 8, now I know it's good.
Does anyone know if the stretch from kampot to kep is finished? And what about the road surface from kampot to sinville?

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 1:56 pm
by Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Kampot to Kep is still bad. Kampot to Sihanoukville is fine for a road bike. Most of it is great actually.

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 2:25 pm
by rick o'shea
Someone told me over lunch that kampot to kep is now complete, in fact he cycled it yesterday. Must be true!

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 2:27 pm
by StroppyChops
... nothing seems to be happening about it.

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 2:37 pm
by Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Hmmmm, I was there not that long ago, but maybe your friend is right. The worst part is right out of Kampot if I recall correctly. Definately possible to cycle it, just depends on what you consider "good" I guess. I wouldn't take a speed bike on it, but maybe it is finished... Roads get done pretty quickly around here.

Re: Road conditions - Cambodia

Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 4:46 pm
by doktor_d
I drove Kep to Kampot a few weeks ago. The road was in great condition. But for how long? :)