E04 expressway (Sri Lanka)

North East Expressway shield

North East Expressway
Colombo–Kandy Expressway
Route information
Maintained by the Road Development Authority
Length: 99 km (62 mi)
Major junctions
South end: Kadawatha  E03 Colombo - Katunayake Expressway
North end: Katugastota
Highway system
Expressways of Sri Lanka

The Central Expressway, also known as the Colombo–Kandy Expressway is a proposed road project that will link the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, with Kandy. It will essentially duplicate the route of the A1 Road (Colombo-Kandy Road).

The idea was originally proposed by the UNP government under Ranil Wickremesinghe. In 2002, a Malaysian company has had discussions with the then United National Party (UNP) government over the Kandy-Colombo Expressway.However the project was not able to commence due to the elections and the fall of the UNP government.[1][2]

In November 2013 the Project Minister for Highways announced that construction work on the Northern Expressway would commence in January 2015.[3] The first phase of the works will link the E03 expressway at Kadawatha through to Kurunegala via Ederamulla and Meerigama.[3] The next stage will see the road extended to Katugastota in Kandy. The Minister advised that the expressway would be built in three stages with financial assistance from China.[3][4]

On the 14 December 2014 the President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, launched the construction of the expressway by laying a foundation stone at the Senkadagala entrance of the expressway. The total cost of the expressway is estimated to be approximately Rs.200 billion and the works are scheduled to be completed by 2018.[5]

Construction

Construction of the Northern expressway will be carried out in two phases: Phase 1 - a 48.2 km section from Kadawatha to Ambepussa; and Phase 2 - a 50.7 km section between Ambepussa and Katugastota.

A third phase is also planned extending the expressway from Pallendeniya to Dambulla, connecting through to the A9 highway from Dambulla to Jaffna.[6]

Phase one

The construction of first stage from Kadawatha to Ambepussa will be a four lane divided carriageway (with room for a future two lanes) for a length of 48.2 km (30.0 mi). There are proposed to be interchanges at Kadawatha, Gampaha, Balabowa and Meerigama,[7] with fifty overpasses and thirty underpasses along the route. The initial estimated cost of Phase One was approx. Rs. 70.0bn,[7] with more recent costs estimated at Rs. 130bn.[8]

Phase two

Construction of the second stage of the project from Ambepussa to Katugastota, will also be a four lane divided carriageway for a length of 50.7 km (31.5 mi), with thirty overpassess and five underpasses. Interchanges are proposed at Dewalegama, Rambukkana, Hetharaliyadda and Hedeniya.[7] The tentative cost of construction for Phase Two is Rs. 90.0bn.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "New hopes over Kandy-Colombo Expressway | Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15B/Jul31_1438335472CH.php
  3. 1 2 3 Bandara, Kelum (27 November 2013). "Kandy Expressway to begin in Jan". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Northern Expressway to Kandy". Daily FT. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Northern Expressway work launched". Colombo Gazette. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Construction on 1st phase of Expressway to North will commence next week". News Lanka. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "North East (Colombo Kandy) Expressway (CKH)". Ministry of Highways, Ports & Shipping. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Work on Colombo - Kandy leg of Northern Expressway to commence by this year". Pakistan Defence Forum. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
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