News
Major highways on pillars in and around Colombo
A major highway project to build elevated roads – built on pillars — in and around Colombo city and thereby reduce traffic congestion is to be launched next year.The project estimated to cost US$ 300 million (Rs. 39 billion) will provide for elevated roads from Kaduwela to Colombo Fort, from the Kelaniya Bridge to Kirulapone junction and an access road to Colombo, Ports and Highways Project Minister Nirmala Kotalawala said.
“President Mahinda Rajapaksa proposed this project to avoid displacement of people by widening existing roads,” Mr. Kotalawala said. He said the project plans had already been prepared and the pathways identified. The four-year project would be started in June next year.About 80 per cent of the funding is expected from the Asian Development Bank while the rest will come from a public-private partnership. The highway will operate as a toll road to facilitate the repayment of the loans.
Under the project, the elevated highway from Kaduwela to Colombo will have two phases with the first extending from Kaduwela to Battaramulla, mostly over the marshy lands, and the second from Rajagiriya (near HSBC) to Fort via Kotahena and Colombo Port at Chaithya Road. A senior official involved in the project said they had taken into consideration the traffic congestion which adds to the wastage of time and fuel. He said the project cost would be higher than the normal roads as the entire elevated road will run on concrete pillars and would have four lanes.