Some misguided theorists believe the peak-hour traffic congestion on the Dehiwala stretch of the Galle Road is the result of the new Dehiwala flyover.
But the Dehiwala stretch, regardless of the flyover, has always been “chock-a-block”, bumper-to-bumper. The road is crying for some extra marginal space and roadway. Few seem to understand that the solution to the Dehiwala dilemma is the Marine Drive project. The Marine Drive, which would ease the congestion on the parallel Galle Road, has been stalled for the past 15 years.
Another reason for congestion is the lack of space on either side of the flyover for lesser vehicles and the ubiquitous vendors/traders.
To add to problems, the Road Passenger Transport Authority (RPTA), Western Province (based in Battaramulla), has failed to mark or identify vital points and bus halts along the way. The result is that all buses coming from Colombo and Mt. Lavinia are bunched up in bottle-neck at the Dehiwala inter-section.
It is pure chaos on the main roads flanking the flyover stretch, in addition to disruptions and traffic blocks from Hill Street and Station Road.
W. Meadows,
Dehiwala |
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