New traffic plan near Kelani Bridge to reduce congestion

A new traffic plan is to be implemented from today (21 December) due to construction work to join the Katunayake Highway and the New Kelani Bridge currently under construction, the Roads and Highways Ministry said in a statement yesterday. 

Considering the overflow of vehicles entering Colombo prior to the Christmas season, the Ministry is to implement a traffic plan minimising inconvenience to travellers.

Accordingly, New Kelani Bridge Project Director Darshika Jayasekara organised a meeting yesterday to look into this matter with project engineers, a group of high-profile Colombo traffic officials and officers of the advisory company in attendance.

During the meeting, officers paid special attention to the traffic plan proposed by Colombo city traffic officials. Accordingly, from 19 December 2019 to 20 January 2020, vehicles entering Colombo via the Colombo-Kandy Road will be limited to a single lane. 

Heavy vehicles heading towards Colombo from Kadawatha will be directed towards Kerawalapitiya through the Kadawatha Interchange and traffic flow will be turned right at the Peliyagoda Junction and again flow will take a right turn at Nawaloka Junction along the Colombo-Puttalam Road and will be directed towards the port entrance via the Japanese Friendship Bridge and destinations such as Kotahena and Fort can be accessed through Sangaharaja Mawatha passing the Sugathadasa Stadium. 

Furthermore, vehicle categories that cannot drive through highways, moving from areas like Kiribathgoda and Mahara, will be directed towards the Colombo-Puttalam Road intersecting Wattala to be entered via the Japanese Friendship Bridge. Additionally, traffic flowing past Kiribathgoda will be directed towards the Colombo-Puttalam Road through a right turn at Wedamulla Junction to access Colombo.

Moreover, motorists headed to Borella, Dematagoda and the suburbs through the Katunayake Highway are recommended to use the New Kelani Bridge. This new traffic plan is scheduled to be implemented in accordance with the instructions of the Roads and Highways Minister.