Cambodia's Ministry of Public Works and Transport has announced that the construction of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will start on June 2023.

China Road and Bridge Corporation will be the developer of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway which constructed the initial Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway. The Phnom Penh - Bavet Expressway will have a total length of 138 km, including a bridge across the Mekong River and is scheduled to be completed by late 2026 or early 2027. The planned expressway will trace the path of the existing two-lane National Highway 1. The freeway which will consist of 4 lanes, including emergency lanes on either side is expected to reduce the travel time between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville from 5 hours on the previous National Road 4 to about 2 hours.