Elevated highway from Peliyagoda to Colombo Fort

Tuesday, 14 October 2014 01:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ADB has financed feasibility study and the preliminary designs; Cabinet approves major traffic easing project Cabinet last week approved preliminary work towards building an elevated highway from Peliyagoda to Colombo Fort to ease traffic congestion and improve mobility. As per the approval, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between HASS Joint Venture, Australia and the Road Development Authority to obtain detailed proposals. Plans include constructing a new bridge over the Kelani River and an elevated highway from Peliyagoda to Colombo Fort. Official sources said the project for the construction of the new bridge and its approaches has been formulated separately and is being financed by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and feasibility study and the preliminary designs for the elevated highway have already been completed with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Cabinet approved the proposal on the elevated highway submitted by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping.

Work begins on Northern Expressway The Government has begun work on the larger Northern Expressway by finalising contract packages for link between Pothuhera to Galagedara and to Galewela on a priority basis. This portion of the expressway will connect major commercial cities Gampaha, Veyangoda, Mirigama, Kurunegala, Rideegama, Melsiripura and Galewela and further connect major commercial cities Rambukkana and Galagedara. On the Northern Expressway portion, interchanges will be constructed at Enderamulla (system interchange), Gampaha, Veyangoda, Mirigama, Nakalagamuwa, Dambokka, Kurunegala, Ridigama, Melsiripura, Galewala and Pothuhera (system interchange). On the Link Expressway interchanges will be constructed at Rambukkana and Galagedara. System interchange provides connectivity only along the expressway. The feasibility studies and preliminary designs have been already completed and the proposed expressway corridors for the above mentioned sections have been already identified. The Environmental Impact Assessment and land acquisition activities are in progress. These sections of the expressway have been divided into eight individual contract packages for implementation of construction. The proposal, made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Minister of Highways, Ports and Shipping, to proceed with the related activities was approved by the Cabinet last week.