Express-Way Updates

[Le Sabre]

Havent heard much news on the southern expressway, colombo-katu , colombo -kandy and outer circular road projects.

Anybody has any updates on these projects so far.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Le Sabre

[Le Sabre]

Please do keep us updated on any news of the expressway projects.

If anyone has any photos please do post them too.

[Le Sabre]

Construction of the Matara-Colombo Expressway is nearing completion and will be vested for public use in April next year. The government has given the highest priority to this project Deputy Minister of Highways Dr. Mervyn Silva addressing media personnel, at the concluding point of the Expressway, in Kottawa revealed the details of this project.yesterday.

Dr. Mervyn pointed out that the travel time from Matara to Colombo will be drastically reduced with the opening of this road and the travel time will amount to about 2 hours. Emphasizing about the advantage of having this expressway, he said that people from the down south can cook Kiribath at their homes and deliver them in the same warm condition to their relatives in Colombo by using this expressway.

In order to expedite the construction of this expressway, under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s firm directive, construction components

were segregated to four sectors and assigned to four contractors. Originally the construction work was assigned only to two contractors.

This 131.1 km length Expressway costs the government Rs. 800 Million and it will have 48 under-passes, 12 overhead-passes and 18 major bridges. Out of these structures, construction of 39 under-passes, 3 overhead passes and 13 major bridges have already been completed and the remaining structures will be completed by 31st October this year. Access to the Expressway can only be made through eleven interchanges, which are located at places where the expressway crosses major roads/highways.

[Ripper]

On a more lighter note. for a heli to come to rescue in SL accendent should involve a VVIP. In that case they will be able to find plenty of ways to make it land lol

hell yeah!!! they will easily land on top of two other cars cos as we all know....we really really need those VVIP's to be safe...

like the good doctor from kelaniya

[Watchman]

Construction of the Matara-Colombo Expressway is nearing completion and will be vested for public use in April next year. The government has given the highest priority to this project Deputy Minister of Highways Dr. Mervyn Silva addressing media personnel, at the concluding point of the Expressway, in Kottawa revealed the details of this project.yesterday.

April next year??? Yeah right

I would have maybe beleived it with maybe +4-5 months, but considering the person who made the statement, even reading his statement would be a waste of time. siighhh

[Ripper]

April next year??? Yeah right

I would have maybe beleived it with maybe +4-5 months, but considering the person who made the statement, even reading his statement would be a waste of time. siighhh

well apparently all the site workers are working 24/7 cos if the Dr. misses the deadline...workers will be tied to trees

[SeanD]

This 131.1 km length Expressway costs the government Rs. 800 Million and it will have 48 under-passes, 12 overhead-passes and 18 major bridges.

What the? Either someone got their numbers wrong, or there was a lot of skimping going on. At Rs. 800 million for a 131 km expressway, we should already have several of them stretching right across the country by now. If I remember right, the cost was more like 20 billion.

Here's some uncomfortable news: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/07/15/s...ara-expressway/

[Watchman]

What the? Either someone got their numbers wrong, or there was a lot of skimping going on. At Rs. 800 million for a 131 km expressway, we should already have several of them stretching right across the country by now. If I remember right, the cost was more like 20 billion.

Here's some uncomfortable news: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2010/07/15/s...ara-expressway/

yeah i would presume even the bridge over the kaluganga itseld might have cost something close to the 800mil price...

[nissan_fan]

Kurundugahahetepma ?

[Le Sabre]

Sri Lanka plans expressway to central hills capital

The Sri Lankan government said it has got Asian Development Bank funding to start work on an expressway between Colombo and Kandy in the central hills that will cut travel time to less than an hour.

Transport ministry secretary Wasantha Karannagoda said the ADB had promised 500 million dollars over the next three years for the first phase of the project.

"Land acquisition studies and detailed designs have been done and we hope to start the civil works from next year," he told a news conference.

"The expressway will reduce travel time between Colombo and Kandy to around 45-50 minutes with vehicle speeds of 100-110 kilometres an hour. It will be a four-lane highway with provision to expand to six lanes.

"This will be a big relief to commuters, enabling them to save time and fuel, and reduce vehicle maintenance costs."

Travel between Colombo and Kandy now takes about three hours and there is congestion on the existing road.

The planned expressway will be an elevated highway, built on viaducts or concrete pillars in order to reduce land acquisition and avoid difficulties caused by the danger of floods, Karannagoda said.

The first phase from Kadawata, north of Colombo, to Ambepussa will take about three and a half years. The second phase would extend the road to Katugastota, near Kandy.

"If we can get funds for the second phase we can work on that at the same time so the total construction period would be about four years," Karannagoda said.

The government had decided to do the project after a previous proposal to give it to a Malaysian company was abandoned, he said.

This was because the foreign investor's feasibility studies indicated the anticipated traffic was not enough to ensure profits within their time frame, he said.

Government spokesman media minister Kehaliya Rambukkwelle said the government might make the first stretch of expressway a toll road.

[hyacc]

[hyacc]

Expressway between Omanthai and Jaffna

Monday, 30 August 2010 00:46

By Romesh Madushanka

Work on an expressway between Omanthai and Jaffna along the A9 main road is to commence in October this year, Deputy Minister of Highways Nirmala Kotelawala said.

He revealed this while speaking at the function held to inaugurate the main office of the Road Development Authority opened in the Killinochchi district at a cost of Rs. 8 million. The Deputy Minister also commissioned two offices to be used by executive engineers of the Road Development Authority, situated on the A9 road in Kangarayankulam and Mankulam, built at a cost of 5.5 million rupees. He added that steps have been taken to develop 1200 kilometers of roads in the North which included the A9 road as well.

Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, Killinochchi District Secretary Mrs. Rupawathie Thedeeswaran, Director General of the RDA Mr. R.W.R. Premasiri, also participated. Brigadier Wickremasuriya, who is the officer in charge of the Killinochchi district, some senior government officers and civilians from the resettled villages, also participated.

The keys of over 80 motorcycles were handed over to RDA officers to be used for their field work. School kits were also to needy students in the area.

[hyacc]

[hyacc]

COLOMBO-KATUNAYAKE EXPRESSWAY PROGRESSING AS SCHEDULED.

(17.08.2010) Construction of the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway project is progressing as scheduled. This 25.8 km expressway from the New Kelani bridge to Katunayake is being built as a high mobility link between the city of Colombo and Katunayake International Airport, to promote outward migration of people from Colombo area, to improve mobility needs of the industrial development areas in the vicinity and the associated container traffic, and to reduce traffic congestion on the A3 road (Peliyagoda-Puttalam road). 85% of the 292 Million U.S.Dollar project is being funded by a Chinese Government loan. The project is being implemented by the Metallurgical China Group Corporation.

The Expressway will have 4 to 6 lanes with the width ranging from 26 meters to 33.5 meters. It is estimated that upon completion of this Expressway the commuters could travel to Katunayake in 20 minutes. This project was first initiated in 1967 and a structure was also erected in Peliyagoda in this regard. However, for political and various other reasons the project was totally abandoned. Under the Mahindana Chintana programme of improving road transport facilities attention was given to this project and upon negotiating with the Chinese government about the financing arrangements, the project was started on 18th August, 2009. This project is expected to be completed in 39 months.

There will be 4 interchange points located at New Kelani Bridge, Peliyagoda, Je Ela and at Katunayake, and at these points the Expressway will be connected to the Negombo road, Kandy expressway, outer circular ring road connecting with Matara-Colombo express way and with other access roads.

The Project Director of the Expressway Mr. P. Gunaratne told the development.lk that the Expressway will have 42 bridges and 80 culverts. Construction work on 10 bridges has already started, and 20 culverts have been completed. 18% of the project work is completed by now, and rest of the work is progressing expeditiously.

Most of the area of the Expressway runs across deep muddy terrain and this surface is being filled and pressed with sea sand mined off Hanwella coast. A large extent of land in the Kerawelapitiya area is being used as the sand deposit area.(niz).

[SeanD]

That looks really nice, but though it's hard to say from a photo, the lanes look too damn narrow to me to be travelling at 110kmph given the "lane discipline" possessed by most drivers in SL. Having some maniac with a penchant for swerving barelling along 6inches away from you is not quite my cup of tea, so think I'll stick to the Galle road . Might've been better to just make it one wide lane either way. No pedestrians, mobikes or threewheelers, please! (Guess there will be little use for buses other than tourist coaches to travel on this).

[Le Sabre]

Thanks for the photo updates.

If you have more please do post them.

Any pics of the colombo -katu or outer circular road work.

[Le Sabre]

That looks really nice, but though it's hard to say from a photo, the lanes look too damn narrow to me to be travelling at 110kmph given the "lane discipline" possessed by most drivers in SL. Having some maniac with a penchant for swerving barelling along 6inches away from you is not quite my cup of tea, so think I'll stick to the Galle road . Might've been better to just make it one wide lane either way. No pedestrians, mobikes or threewheelers, please! (Guess there will be little use for buses other than tourist coaches to travel on this).

There wont be any pedestrians, mobikes, threewheelers, tractors or route buses allowed on the expressway.

[Sifaan]

There wont be any pedestrians, mobikes, threewheelers, tractors or route buses allowed on the expressway.

what about cats, dogs, elephants...?

[SeanD]

There wont be any pedestrians, mobikes, threewheelers, tractors or route buses allowed on the expressway.

None of these are allowed on any of the existing "overpasses" in Colombo either, but I see them all the time.

[MkX]

That looks really nice, but though it's hard to say from a photo, the lanes look too damn narrow to me to be travelling at 110kmph given the "lane discipline" possessed by most drivers in SL. Having some maniac with a penchant for swerving barelling along 6inches away from you is not quite my cup of tea, so think I'll stick to the Galle road . Might've been better to just make it one wide lane either way. No pedestrians, mobikes or threewheelers, please! (Guess there will be little use for buses other than tourist coaches to travel on this).

The very 1st photo shows only 4 lanes. How many lanes are there. I hope a highway needs at least 4 tracks in one side. From fast moving vehicles, a track to vehicles that are going to exit from highway and most importantly enough space for vhicles that had to stop due to various reasons/emergencies.

Edited September 2, 2010 by MkX

[heavyD]

None of these are allowed on any of the existing "overpasses" in Colombo either, but I see them all the time.

This is a toll highway though right? And have to agree with the narrow lanes.

Anyone know what the speed limits are?

[hyacc]

This is a toll highway though right? And have to agree with the narrow lanes.

Anyone know what the speed limits are?

Design Speed : 120 km/h

http://www.rda.gov.lk/supported/expressways/stdp.htm

[Chooti Putha]

There wont be any pedestrians, mobikes, threewheelers, tractors or route buses allowed on the expressway.

what about the faster motor bikes then

[SeanD]

The very 1st photo shows only 4 lanes. How many lanes are there. I hope a highway needs at least 4 tracks in one side. From fast moving vehicles, a track to vehicles that are going to exit from highway and most importantly enough space for vhicles that had to stop due to various reasons/emergencies.

Guess what, that's the size of the highway 2 (evidently narrow) lanes going either way. Good luck everyone.

[heavyD]

If the roads are as narrow as they seem, I'm going to go find myself a nice tunnel just the width of my car, and start practicing driving through it at 120 kmph.

[SeanD]

The tipper in the last picture posted seems to take up almost one entire side of the road. Looks like what big_d said is right, time to start practicing racing in a narrow tunnel.