Southern expressway to be completed by July
The Southern expressway, the longest out of the proposed expressway
network will be completed by July said Chairman / Director General Road
Development Authority A.W.R. Pemasiri.
He was addressing the Logistics Leaders Evening themed “Strategies
for land transport related infrastructure development” organised by the
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Sri Lanka. “Plans are
afoot to complete the expressway from Kottawa to Galle with 11
interchanges by July,” he said.
The interchanges will be at Makumbura, Kahathuduwa, Gelanigama,
Dodangoda, Lewanduwa, Kurundugahahetekma, Nayapamula (Baddegama),
Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Kokmaduwa and Godagama.
Pemasiri said that this will be an access controlled toll road and
toll plazas will be constructed at interchanges. Vehicles such as
three-wheelers, motorcycles as well as tractors will not be allowed and
there will be loading restrictions as well.
The new road initially planned from Kottawa to Matara will be
extended to Hambantota.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), JICA as well as EXIM Bank of China
are the main funding agencies for the project.
The objectives of the project are to improve transport facilities for
future development of the Southern Region, provide a highway to act as a
catalyst in encouraging and attracting industries and services for the
economic and social development of the region, and promote
inter-regional transport facilities considering it as a major component
of the proposed expressway network.
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