Colombo Katunayake expressway work recommences

Lalin FERNANDOPULLE

Work on the proposed Katunayake-Colombo Express highway recommenced early this week with an investment of US$ 294 million, funded by the Chinese Exim Bank and the Government of Sri Lanka. The project which was launched in 2000 with a three-year period for completion, came to a standstill in 2002 due to public opposition and for political reasons.

The construction of a highway from the international airport to Colombo was a long felt need to save time due to the congestion on the Negombo Road. The Negombo Road which is a two-way stretch with limited road space causes major traffic blocks. Secretary to the Ministry of Highways, S. Amarasekera said the government has given the highest priority to construct roads and highways to accelerate economic development envisaged in the 10-year development plan. “Plans are afoot to launch the Outer Circular Highway this year which will connect all major roads to the Southern highway, Kandy Road, High Level Road, Low Level Road, the proposed Katunayake-Colombo Road and Negombo Road”, Amarasekera said. Tenders for the project will close by the end of the month and awarding of tenders will take place by July. He said part of the Southern Highway will be completed by September and the rest will be completed by the end of next year.

The Southern Highway project which is estimated to cost Rs. 84 billion is funded by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JAICA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the government.

The first stage of the Colombo-Matara stretch up to Galle will be completed by July 2010. The total length of the expressway is 126 kilometres.