SihanoukVille, Cambodia is growing bigger.

The bridge to Snake Island (which has a new official name for the Island that nobody knows yet) is set to be completed by the middle of 2010.

A $70 million port expansion has been announced.

The marina is still almost finished, with some of the condos now occupied.

Stoplights, ATM's and casinos are mushrooming throughout the town.

Oil drilling may officially start.

The airport still doesn't have any scheduled flights.

More island facilities are being approved.

More hotels are being built and expanded.

Tourism has hit new records.

7 cruise lines now have port calls here.

Land prices have stabilized or dropped a bit, but not too much. The number of land sales has dropped considerably.

All 10 (or 11) banks in town are still in business, and actually doing quite well. We'll probably get a few more new banks in 2009.

New construction has slowed down, but most projects started in 2008 or before, will be or have been completed. Construction labor and material have dropped in price, though some skilled tradespeople are getting more money.

Banking laws have been changed, to allow banks to lend more to real estate and construction purchases. Laws are also tending to be more strict for developers to keep their promises.

Everyone's having a great time in SihanoukVille!

Building up SihanoukVille

Some recent progress on SihanoukVille's infrastructure.

* The bridge to Snake Island has officially started construction
Plans are for the island to be a large resort and residential place.
The marina, which is at the base of the bridge on the mainland will have condos, a shopping mall, and many services. The marina is still about 80% finished (except for a couple big buildings)

* No news on oil drilling, but not too many helicopters flying overhead lately.

* and the helicopters were the only users of the SihanoukVille Airport, which still does not have any scheduled flights.

* The town's public hospital is expanding, thanks in part to Bill Gates (Gates Foundation is one of the donors to the new Lab building). And another building is going up next to the AIDS clinic, run by the French Red Cross.

* All the bridges between Koh Kong and SihanoukVille (and Phnom Penh) are finished, which shortens the ride between these places dramatically. Should bring more tourists to SihanoukVille from Thailand, as the trip is now shorter and cheaper.

* A large coal fired power plant will be constructed in town, with completion several years away.

* A small oil refinery and delivery infrastructure is planned (being built?) on the road to Steung Hauv, outside of town.

* The first 2 traffic lights have been installed (not yet turned on) downtown.

* Still waiting for KFC to come to town as planned.

* Another bank opened, and another bank is already planned for downtown. This makes about 10 banks in town.

* Land prices are going up, but much more slowly than in the past couple of years.
Several land development project, large and small have begun around town. Condos townhouses, shopping complexes, single family home complexes. And the number of real estate sales offices is also going up.

* Don't know of any progress on the islands off the coast of SihanoukVille, but it's hard to tell what's going on out there.

* Many new government buildings are going up around town.

and that's about it!