Matara within easy reach:

Southern Expressway Phase II opens soon

by Ranil Wijayapala

The Ministry of Ports and Highways plans to open the second phase of the Southern Expressway in January 2014, enabling motorists to reach the Southern town of Matara in 90 minutes from the Kottawa entrance to the Southern Expressway, making another dream of Sri Lankans a reality.

"Final touches are now being made to the road to facilitate its opening in January 2014", officials of the Ministry of Highways said.

The four-lane highway is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 25 billion and will have two interchanges along the 35 kilometre distance between Galle and Matara. The two interchanges will be at Wathawana on the Galle-Deniyaya Road and in Kokmaduwa along the Weligama-Kananke Road.

Funding for the project is provided by the EXIM Bank of China and the Road Development Authority.

According to the Highways Ministry official, plans are afoot to further extend the expressway from Matara Godagama to the Hambantota Harbour via Beliatta, Andarawewa and Mattala. Feasibility studies for the proposed extension have already been completed.

The Ports and Highways Ministry will begin construction work on the Southern Expressway extension project up to Hambantota parallel to the opening of the second section of the Southern Expressway from Galle to Matara.

The Government signed an agreement with China to raise the funds for the extension of the Southern Expressway up to Hambantota during President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to China in earlier this year.

The Cabinet approved the awarding of contracts of the Southern Expressway extension project on a proposal by President Rajapaksa in his capacity as the Ports Development and Highways Minister.

Accordingly, the 96-kilometre stretch of the Southern Expressway extension from Matara to Hambantota will be carried out in three stages: The first stage from Matara to Beliatta (30 km), second stage from Beliatta to Wetiya (26km) and the last stage from Mattala to Hambantota via Andarawewa (25 km).

The project to extend the Southern Expressway up to Hambantota is one of the key components in the road development network to support the Hambantota International Hub Development. Plans are also under way to connect the Southern Expressway to Arugam Bay to provide easy access to the Eastern Province.