Railway Department builds longest bridge

By Anura Maitipe

The construction of five railway bridges at a cost of Rs. 1.8 billion with the finance assistance of the Austrian government will be completed shortly, a spokesman for the Railway Department told the Sunday Observer.

He said “The new bridge over Kelani River is the longest bridge that was constructed by the Sri-Lankan Railway since it was established by the Colonial Rulers. The 275 meters long bridge has two railway lines.

The technical assistance has been provided by Waggnar-Biro an Austrian Firm.

Monitoring and planning of this project has been carried out by local engineers attached to the Railway Department, he added.
In addition, another four bridges at Seeduwa, Ja-Ela, Pinwatta and Kalutara have also been constructed. With the completion of the new bridge, northward trains will use the new bridge and Colombo bound trains will use the old bridge.
This will reduce traffic congestion at Kelaniya, he pointed out.

Additional provisions have also been made available for future expansion of railway lines over the new bridge for proposed luxury rail services to Katunayaka Air Port from Colombo Fort.