Access Engineering marks swift progress in construction of Central Expressway Project

Surging forward with work on Section – 2, Package – A 

The National Master Plan for 2007-2017 of the Government of Sri Lanka recognised the Central Expressway as one of the key expressways to be developed considering the long-term economical and transportation benefit that the development inherits. 

The project was initiated by the Road Development Authority under the directive of the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways.

Construction work in progress on Central Expressway Project Section – 2, Package – A 

The Central Expressway from Kadawatha-Dambulla and the link expressway from Pothuhera-Galagedara with the highway link to Ambepussa is the fourth expressway of Sri Lanka which will connect major cities such as Gampaha, Veyangoda, Meerigama, Pothuhera, Kurunegala, rRdeegama, Melsiripura, Galewela, Dambulla, Rambukkana and Galagedara. 

The development of the Central Expressway (CEP), which spreads along a total length of 169.53 km, is executed under four sections namely Sections 1: Kadawatha (0.0 km) to Meerigama (37.1 km), Section 2: Meerigama (37.1 km) to Kurunegala (76.8 km), Section 3: Pothuhera (0.0 km) to Galagedara (32.5 km) and Section 4: Kurunegala (76.8 km) to Dambulla (137.1 km).

The total section of CEP-2 from Meerigama-Kurunegala, which is 39.7 km long, is subdivided and each section is awarded to contractor consortiums which are selected from the pre-qualified local contractors. 

Package-A of CEP-2, which is 9.71 km, is entrusted to the Contractor Consortium; ICC-ACCESS-(NAWALOKA-KDESH Jv). Out of the total stretch of 9.71 km, the construction of CH 38+927 to CH 40+430 and CH 40+730 to CH 46+800 is entrusted to Access Engineering Plc.

The scope of the work includes construction of a 3.633 km two-way divided expressway with four lanes having hard shoulders and soft shoulders from either side with a centre median, seven culverts, three underpasses, one bridge and a 1.23 km-long viaduct. The project also includes 458,590 m3 of earth works.

Due to the extensive land acquisitions involved in the project, which creates multiple benefits as well as inconveniences to the livelihood and local economy, a comprehensive resettlement action plan (RAP) for both permanent and temporary relocation of families and institutions is being implemented by the Road Development Authority. 

“As the route traverses through a considerable extent of paddy fields and low-lying areas, numerous mitigatory measures are already undertaken from the design stage to avoid sensitive areas to the extent possible, failing which technical measures are taken concurrently so as to minimise the disturbances caused to the natural habitats, flora and fauna,” said Access Engineering Project Manager Ezzan Hanifa, who is responsible for the construction of the Access Engineering section of the Central Expressway Project  Section – 2 , Package – A.