Southern Ew

[Le Sabre]

The first stage of the Colombo - Matara Expressway (up to Galle) will be completed in July 2010 and the total project would be ready by 2011.

Total length of the expressway would be 126 kilometres, which is 34 kms less than the existing Colombo - Matara highway.

The expressway costing Rs. 84 billion is Sri Lanka’s biggest development project in history(nop Colombo south harbour) and is also the first access controlled expressway (EW) in the country.

Design speed of the project starting from Kottawa on Highlevel road and ending at Godagama in Matara is 120 kilometres per hour.

“One of the biggest advantages of the project is that a motorist would be able to reach Matara in just one hour and twenty minutes and Galle in one hour,” said Project Director, Southern Transport Development Project (STDP), S. Meihandan.

The EW is a four lane dual carriageway with eleven interchanges with toll gates and one rest area in Bentota with a 1.5m wide centre median with a cable barrier.

The access to the expressway would be from Kottawa on High Level road and from Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurundugahahetekma, Nayapamula, Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Weligama and Godagama on Matara Akuressa road.

There would be 153 underpasses and 27 overpasses as well. The EW would also be linked to the Colombo - Katunayake EW and the proposed Colombo - Kandy EW.

He said the EW was originally planned to be a two lane expressway and it was converted to a four lane anticipating the future demand. “We estimate that the Southern expressway would be sufficient to meet the demand for another 25 years.

There is provision for two additional lanes for the future,” he added.

Two Special ambulances and a fire brigade would be assigned for the Expressway in case of an emergency.

Commenting on the proposed ‘toll’ he said that the STDP, hopes to charge a toll of Rs. 3 per kilometer from Cars, Rs. 6 from Vans, Rs. 9 from Buses and Lorries and Rs. 12 from Container Trucks.

A toll card is also planned for regular users. No motor bikes or three wheelers would be allowed in the EW.

Japan International Co-operation Agency, (JICA) Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government would fund the project.

The main objective of the project is to assist the development of economic activities of the Southern Province by encouraging growth in industries such as tourism, fisheries and agriculture.

Another advantage would be the reduction of fatal and non-fatal accidents (Most of the present victims are pedestrians and cyclists) in the A2 highway. Security against potential tsunami impacts between North and South on the Western Coast has also been considered. Land acquisition and resettlement has been substantially completed. Post resettlement activities such as income restoration, home gardening development and environmental monitoring are in progress.

He said that nearly 1340 families were displaced and Rs. 4.57 Billion had been paid as compensation so far.

Commenting on new technology the project director said that application of Compact Vacuum Consolidation and heavy tamping methods to treat soft soil areas were introduced.

[Devinda_Z]

was on a small section of this in Elpitiya a few weeks back and must say the road surface is excellent

nothings been marked out yet, but its good to note that there are no structures etc on either side of the road so it really is looking like a sealed off proper highway at the moment

given the progress made i reckon it won't be too long till it comes online fully..

[Le Sabre]

I dont think they will allow busses, then the ticket prices will increase as its a toll expressway.

I guess the cars, vans and private bus operating companies will be using the expressway.

The busses and 3 wheelers will get to race it out on the older road i guess.

[Le Sabre]

Came across a link with the expressway completed so far.

Edited October 10, 2009 by Le Sabre

[Devinda_Z]

any idea on how much the toll is gonna be?

its fairly (not very,but fairly) impressive that i'll say

[miniace]

any idea on how much the toll is gonna be?

its fairly (not very,but fairly) impressive that i'll say

Sure thats not decided as yet I guess.Met one senior project engineers...true fact is that the completion is expected beyond 2012 and the allocated budget needs to be revised.

MINIACE

[Devinda_Z]

Sure thats not decided as yet I guess.Met one senior project engineers...true fact is that the completion is expected beyond 2012 and the allocated budget needs to be revised.

MINIACE

thats a shame!

based on the little i saw i thought the project had come a long way

[miniace]

thats a shame!

based on the little i saw i thought the project had come a long way

Even 2012 becoming a dream with financial n funds status.Will upload the latest vid soon.

MINIACE

[Le Sabre]

Wonder how long they will take to make the colombo-Katu expressway, outer circular road and the colombo-Kandy expressway.

Is the work on the colombo -katu and colombo-kandy expressway in progress.

Hope they will also think of linking up the North and East with colombo with an expressway as well.

[Le Sabre]

Just came across this article.

WB gives $ 243 m for highway

The A - 12 highway from Nochchiyagama in Anuradhapura district to Trincomalee will be converted to a modern highway. The World Bank will provide US $ 243 million to renovate 130 kilometre road.

Sri Lanka’s World Bank project Director Gajaba Gunawardane said the A - 12 high way has been a historical roadway since Mannar, Vavuniya, Puttalam and Anuradhapura districts have access to the East along the A - 12 road.

Nation Building Minister S. M. Chandrasena said the road construction project would be inaugurated on November 6 at Horowpothana.

[HardHat]

now only if our ministers, dpty ministers, MPs, palababas, nagara babas, gam babas and their secerataries, pions and drivers stopped the disgusting attempts to cut their own slices out the cake, some roads will eventualy be built in Sri Lanka

[virensti]

now only if our ministers, dpty ministers, MPs, palababas, nagara babas, gam babas and their secerataries, pions and drivers stopped the disgusting attempts to cut their own slices out the cake, some roads will eventualy be built in Sri Lanka

Agreed! But you know, even if they do make this highway, it'll be very pointless (meaning it'll be like any other road) if they put the stupid 70 km/h speed limit and have speed check every 400m.. And there's no way they'll keepthe cows,dogs,people etc from coming on to the road. It'll be nice to be cruising on a highway when suddenly a cow i mean a man jumps in front to cross the road out of no where.

[Bugatti]

Agreed! But you know, even if they do make this highway, it'll be very pointless (meaning it'll be like any other road) if they put the stupid 70 km/h speed limit and have speed check every 400m.. And there's no way they'll keepthe cows,dogs,people etc from coming on to the road. It'll be nice to be cruising on a highway when suddenly a cow i mean a man jumps in front to cross the road out of no where.

Yup, you gotta point there... if you'd be doin your regular 180 km/h ...

Also, the consequences would depend if your riding in your Vios, or a certain Subaru...

[virensti]

Yup, you gotta point there... if you'd be doin your regular 180 km/h ...

Also, the consequences would depend if your riding in your Vios, or a certain Subaru...

very funny both vios and subaru would be well within the speed limits on a road like this. No in reality I mean if they have a blanket 70mph (112 km/h) speed limit? It'll just never happen I guess.

[Devinda_Z]

Agreed! But you know, even if they do make this highway, it'll be very pointless (meaning it'll be like any other road) if they put the stupid 70 km/h speed limit and have speed check every 400m.. And there's no way they'll keepthe cows,dogs,people etc from coming on to the road. It'll be nice to be cruising on a highway when suddenly a cow i mean a man jumps in front to cross the road out of no where.

hmmm true about the checkpoint issue...

but portions of the expressway i saw were fairly isolated and by that token there really isn't much around - and there also kinda is a fence on either side at the moment..

[Le Sabre]

The design speed for the Southern Expressway is supposed to be 120km/h according to the RDA website.

[Devinda_Z]

Todays papers had feature showing a group of journalists on a tour of a section of the Southern Highway - completion 2011 it said if i recall right

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/091101/FT.html

[virensti]

The design speed for the Southern Expressway is supposed to be 120km/h according to the RDA website.

120 km/h ??? That's about 8 km/h quicker than british motorway speed limits.. I seriously doubt they'll allow such a high speed limit. The risk factor is just too high.. For a country like SL where safety on vehicles is very low. I mean considering all accounts taken.. Whats more there's always gonna be the slow arse on the fast lane not letting anyone go past in true sri lankan style.

Edited November 1, 2009 by virensti

[virensti]

Todays papers had feature showing a group of journalists on a tour of a section of the Southern Highway - completion 2011 it said if i recall right

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/091101/FT.html

Wow it looks pretty good.. So far so good I guess

[Le Sabre]

The same report had this to say about the speed limit.

Not sure if its true or confirmed yet.

The speed limit was said to be between 110Km/h and 120Km/h from the RDA website.

Also if the local expressways are going to be like autobahns i think the seat belt law should come to affect.

" There are no traffic lights, stop signs or (brace yourself for this) POLICE. Speeding is allowed as long as your vehicle is in a good condition and you don’t drive to kill".

[LaZyBoY]

120 km/h ??? That's about 8 km/h quicker than british motorway speed limits.. I seriously doubt they'll allow such a high speed limit. The risk factor is just too high.. For a country like SL where safety on vehicles is very low. I mean considering all accounts taken.. Whats more there's always gonna be the slow arse on the fast lane not letting anyone go past in true sri lankan style.

Isn't the speed limit 100 miles/h on U.K motorways?

Nope, you're right, it is in fact 70mi/h on the big motorways. My bad

That being the case, 120km/h does seem quite high here, especially since the majority of drivers have no real motorway experience and things like brakes and tyres (the condition of which are often overlooked by local motorists) play such an important role, at these speeds.

Edited November 2, 2009 by LaZyBoY

[Bugatti]

Todays papers had feature showing a group of journalists on a tour of a section of the Southern Highway - completion 2011 it said if i recall right

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/091101/FT.html

So drag friendly....!

[Pericles]

That being the case, 120km/h does seem quite high here, especially since the majority of drivers have no real motorway experience and things like brakes and tyres (the condition of which are often overlooked by local motorists) play such an important role, at these speeds.

I'm just gonna hope that those ppl don't want to pay the toll and use the road!

[miniace]

So drag friendly....!

Hmm You also think the way i think!!

MINIACE

[Lasitha R]

My home is close to Matara end of the southern EW, and I used to drive about 2Km in the EW during weekends for fun . As KLM mentioned in another thread parts of EW are completed and are very smooth and wide. There are nearly 5Kms of dead straight lines which run through rural areas with low population. Ideal for Drags

[Gummybr]

Will they have anything in the middle to separate the vehicles traveling onto either side, as in from Colombo and from Matara? If that is not there then disaster! But since the Chinese are doing it they would have though about it ne.