Veyangoda flyover to open next month

Friday, 22 November 2013 03:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Veyangoda flyover built by the Highways Ministry on Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s request to meet the rush hour-traffic congestion in the Veyangoda town will be opened next month. It will end the long road traffic delay caused by the movement of trains. This is one of the biggest projects launched to develop infrastructure in the Gampaha District under the Mahinda Chinthana Vision. The total length of the flyover from the entry point is 700 metres. It is built over the railway crossing on the Nittambuwa-Katunayake highway and the Dee Ella which flows parallel to it. The flyover comprises two lanes each 3.5 metres wide. On either side of the flyover are two pavements each 1.5 metres wide. Although plans for this flyover were drawn up in 1996 and surveys done by the then government, various problems prevented the project being launched, thus causing tremendous inconvenience to the public. Closure of the gates at the level crossing to facilitate the movement of 96 trains per day delayed road traffic by eight hours. Work on the flyover commenced on 23 September, 2012 under Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s direction on the advice of President Mahinda

Rajapaksa. At Minister Rajapaksa’s request engineers and officials of the Road Development Authority in charge of the project completed the task within 14 months. The Spanish Government provided the necessary financial assistance. The new flyover is an entry point to the Northern Expressway under construction and is also the main highway used by people travelling between Veyangoda and Sabaragamuwa as well as also by those travelling to Kandy and Katunayake. It has also become convenient for pedestrians going to their places of business and to schools. This is the fourth flyover to come up in the Gampaha District after those built in Kelaniya, Gampaha and Ragama. Compensation for those whose lands were taken over for the construction of the flyover was paid when work on the project commenced. Highways Project Minister Nirmala Kotalawala, Petroleum Industries Deputy Minister Sarana Gunawardena and Ports Shipping and Highways Ministry Secretary Ranjit Premasiri contributed to the project from the very start. A vehicular movement rehearsal on the flyover was held on 1 October.