Access Engineering engaged in construction of Ganemulla Flyover

Friday, 27 May 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Access Engineering PLC, the foremost engineering company in Sri Lanka was recently awarded the sub-contract to construct Ganemulla flyover; a much-needed solution for heavy traffic snarls daily amass at Ganemulla Railway Crossing.

The project is spearheaded by the Road Development Authority and is funded by the Government of Spain. The design and the supply of the superstructure are entrusted to the main contractor; Centunion S. A of Spain and the design of sub structure, on-site fabrication, installation and erection are subcontracted to Access Engineering PLC along with the approach roads and drainage works.

Ganemulla Town which is located nine km away from the Kadawatha Town is mainly developed around Ganemulla Railway Station. The town spreads about 250m and 500m towards Kiridiwita and Kadawatha directions respectively from the railway crossing. Numerous public utilities are spread along the Kadawatha – Ganemulla (B58) road centralising the Ganemulla Railway Station and level crossing. Around 87 trains traveling to and fro Colombo-Badulla, Kandy, Jaffna, Trincomalee, Mannar and Batticaloa pass Ganemulla Railway Station necessitating the closure of the rail gates as frequently as 90 times per day which causes severe traffic congestions by the sides of the level crossings.

The project which was initiated as a permanent solution to the situation at hand involves an erection of a 256m long flyover which is comprised of 3.5m wide two lane carriageways and 1.2m wide two pedestrian ways. The flyover will be built on pile foundations and seven span steel superstructure along with 330 m long approach roads. The alignment of the flyover takes a detour from Ganemulla – Kadawatha road and links to Ganemulla- Kandana road maximizing the natural elevation of the terrain, improving the overall road geometry, eliminating the land acquisitions and utility re-locations.

The engineering team of Access Engineering PLC has now commenced the groundwork of the project which is scheduled to be completed in May 2017. “Once the project is commissioned, the flyover will carry the daily commuters amassed at Ganemulla Bus Stand Junction up and over the railway to the old Police Station at Ganemulla - Kandana road. The severe inconvenience caused to the commuters and the residents by the traffic situations at the level crossing will then become a thing of the past,” said Jeewaka Dahanayake, Project Manager of the Ganemulla Flyover.