Kandy Expressway construction to commence tomorrow
Thursday, 13 November 2014 00:00
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By Waruni Paranagamage
Construction of the Kandy Expressway by five local contractors will commence on Friday (14), with the Pothuhera turn linking it to the Northern Expressway.
Addressing a media briefing last morning, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said the first step of construction from Pothuhera to Galagedara, which will cost Rs. 1.1 billion, will commence from the Galagedara and Rambukkana entry points.
Meanwhile, Northern Expressway construction from the Galewela entrance in the Dambulla District will commence on 15 November.
“The construction from Pothuhera to Galagedara will be funded by Chinese banks, the Enderamulla to Veyangoda stretch will be funded by IFC (International Finance Corporation) and the Veyangoda to Galagedara stretch will be funded via a collaboration of local and foreign banks.”
The Minister revealed that the entire Northern Expressway project will cost Rs. 500 billion.
Pointing out that 60% of Northern Expressway construction would be handled by local constructors, he said time constraints had resulted in the projects being divided into several sections and awarded to five local companies. “We awarded the construction to five local companies and engineers in order to achieve the target on time.”
Tagged by Finance Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera last year as Sri Lanka’s next landmark, the Northern Expressway, which will connect Kandy, Kurunegala and Dambulla to the north and east, will be completed within four years. “We will be able to finish the constructions within four years,” the Minister affirmed.
The Colombo-Kandy Expressway was first proposed in the early 1990s but was delayed, first due to environmental concerns and then due to other issues.
Rambukwella said in the backdrop of the positive environment in place post-war, a decision was taken by the Government to combine the Kandy Expressway with the Northern Expressway from the Pothuhera turn.
The Colombo-Kandy Expressway, which is separated from the Northern Expressway by the Pothuhera turn, will run to Gannoruwa via Rambukkana, Galagedara and Aladeniya. The Northern Expressway will run to Jaffna via Kurunegala, Galewela and Dambulla. From Colombo to Pothuhera, a distance of around 70 km, both expressways will use one route.
The Minister stated that once construction is complete, traffic congestion from Colombo to Dambulla, Kandy, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura areas will be eased.
Current travel speeds during peak hours are low along the 115 km road from Colombo to Kandy, requiring three hours. The expressway will reduce the travel time from Colombo to Kandy to 1.5 hours, while travel to Galewela will also be reduced to 1.5 hours.
Rambukwella also pointed out that due to environmental concerns, the construction of the expressway via Mirigama, Veyangoda and Gampaha would be as elevated roads, while tunnels would be developed between Galagedara and Gannoruwa and Gannoruwa and Thennakumbura.
In the North Central Province, the expressway will cut across paddy fields, coconut lands and bare lands, avoiding damage to neighbourhoods and historic landmarks.
The Minister added that the Government is also looking at more mutually-satisfactory ways in which to address the problems relating to compensation for property required for expressway constructions.
