Prime Minister Hun Sen and Japanese ambassador Hidehisa Horinouchi pose for a photo after the opening of the bridge. KT/Khem Sovannara
Chroy Changva bridge I, commonly known as the Cambodian-Japanese Friendship bridge on Wednesday opens to ease traffic flow after its repairs.

Prime Minister Hun Sen and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Hidehisa Horinouchi presided over the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.

Mr Hun Sen said in his Facebook post that Cambodian-Japanese Friendship bridge is very important as it connects Phnom Penh to other provinces.

“The renovation of this bridge is of better quality with Japanese and Cambodian engineering. Chroy Changva bridge is very important bridge spanning Tonle Sap river. It was built and funded by Japanese grant aid,” Mr Hun Sen said.

According to Japan International Cooperation Agency’s statement, the bridge was renovated in September 2017 due to its crack.

The reconstruction has completed earlier than the original plan which was scheduled in June, it said.

“The bridge will facilitate people travelling, reduce traffic congestion and enhance economic activities such as transporting products between Phnom Penh and provinces,” the statement said.

The Chroy Changva bridge I, which has a total length of 709 meters across the Tonle Sap river, was constructed by Japanese contractors in 1963, but it was almost destroyed by the civil war in 1970s.

The bridge was reconstructed by Japanese aid in 1992 and reopened in 1996 as an important economic corridor connecting Phnom Penh to the provinces.