Southern Expressway first phase opens next year [September 14 2010]

Shirajiv Sirimane

The first phase of the Colombo-Galle Highway will be opened in April next year. This will be countrys first highway that would charge a toll.

The Highway will be from Kottawa and end at Pinnaduwa in Galle. The total distance would be 94 kilometres. From there a 5 kilometer access road would be built to connect the highway to the Galle Town. The travel time to Galle would be less than one hour.

The total investment for this project is Rs. 800 Million. It would have four lanes, 18 major bridges, 48 under-passes and 12 overhead-passes.

There would be 11 main interchanges linking the Highway with main cities like Wadduwa, Kalutara, Bentotoa, Ambalandgoda and access to the Expressway can only be made through them.

The second stage of the project would be to Matara and it is expected to be completed by August next year.