Outer Circular Highway 2nd phase from Kaduwela to Kadawatha opens

The Outer Circular Highway from Kaduwela to Kadawatha was opened to the public by Minister of Highways and Universities Lakshman Kiriella yesterday with the participation of Japanese Ambassador Kenichi Suganuma. State Minister for Defence Ruwan Wijewardene is also present – Pix by Pradeep Pathirana

The second stage of the Outer Circular Highway (OCH) from Kaduwela to Kadawatha was opened yesterday under the patronage of Highways Minister Lakshman Kiriella.

Construction of the second phase of the OCH, the nine-kilometre segment from Kaduwela to Kadawatha began in 2012.

With the opening of the exchange at Kotalawala in Kaduwela to Kadawatha today, the motorists will be able to use the Southern Expressway from Matara to Kadawatha and the travel time between the two cities will be reduced to one-and-a-half hours.

The four-lane expressway with the total length of 14.36 kilometres cost Rs. 44.88 billion. The Japan International Cooperation Agency has funded the project.The entire Outer Circular road will be completed when the construction is carried out from Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya in the third phase.

The OCH is expected to provide an effective bypass for north-south bound traffic and to reduce through-traffic in the city of Colombo and minimise traffic congestion.