|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 16 March 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Work on first super highway begins in early April by ANTON NONIS Work on the Matara-Colombo expressway, Sri Lanka's first super highway, is scheduled to commence in early April, Road Development Authority's (RDA) Project Director, N. M. Zarook, told the Sunday Observer. The project was officially inaugurated last week, by Minister Tilak Marapana. Stage one from Kurundugaha Hetakma to Matara-Godagama measuring 59.5 kilometres, targeted to be completed in January 2007, will create thousands of job opportunities to people of the Southern Province. The expressway is meant only for fast moving vehicles such as cars and buses and also for heavy vehicles such as lorries. The lighter categories such as motorcycles, trishaws and push bicycles will be disallowed, in order to mainly limit the number of vehicles on the road, which would essentially minimise traffic congestions and prevent accidents. Pedestrians are debarred from using the road. According to Zarook, the road will have a breadth of 60-80 metres, but in some areas, especially along the interchanges, it will be 150 metres. The entire stretch of road is fenced except at the interchanges, i.e, the approach roads to the expressway. These would act as entry and exit points for vehicles to the expressway. Initially there will be only one lane for both, upward and downward journeys. They would be separated by a dividing line on the centre. However, the road would be subsequently divided into three lanes on each side, along with a centre median constructed. The centre median would be built about one foot higher than the level of the road. The road has been designed to provide the maximum facilities for motorists, who will have access to emergency telephones fitted on the shoulders of the highway, which are clearly indicated. The motorists will know from a distance that they are approaching a 'shoulder' on the road. The telephones will enable them to communicate with the control stations created at the interchanges. Since this is a road for fast moving vehicles, attention is focussed to keep the roadway clear right along its stretch. Obstructions on the road arising as a result of vehicle malfunction, accidents or for any other reason, could be brought to the notice of the control station for quick assistance. With regard to illumination, sufficient lighting will be provided at the interchanges. Thereafter, lighting will be moderate, mainly to cut down on expenditure involved on heavy lighting. Illumination to some degree is expected from the houses and other establishments on the sides of the road. The workforce for the road will involve about 100 local engineers and technicians, who will be assisted by foreign counterparts numbering about 25 from countries such as Japan, United Kingdom, U.S.A and Australia. The road construction project, apart from creating direct employment opportunities to thousands in the southern province, is also expected to provide indirect jobs to many others. According to RDA Asst. Resettlement officers, a total of 246 families from areas such as Baddegama, Karandeniya, Weliwitiya and Divitura were resettled in other areas with compensation paid to all of them. The RDA has managed to acquire 3,697 plots of land from the owners along the stretch between Akmeemana to Matara. The number of business establishments acquired was 54. Asked whether a fee would be levied from motorists for using the road, Zarook said that no such toll has been thought of, so far. Stage One of the expressway which is estimated to cost Rs. 8.7 billion, is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Stage two, scheduled to start after the completion of Stage One, will be funded by the Japan Bank International Corporation (JBIC). |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
