E04 expressway (Sri Lanka)

Central Expressway shield

Central Expressway
Sri Dalada Highway [1]
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 (E04), 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 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.[2][3] The expressway was supposed to connect the Western Region Megapolis project with the "Greater Kandy Development Project" both projects were also cancelled after the fall of the government.[4]

In November 2013 the Project Minister for Highways announced that construction work on the expressway now known as the Northern Expressway would commence in January 2015.[5] The first phase of the works will link the E03 expressway at Kadawatha through to Kurunegala via Ederamulla and Mirigama.[5] 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.[5][6]

On 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 was estimated to be approximately Rs.200 billion and the works were scheduled to be completed by 2018.[7] [8] After the new government came into power in 2015, expressway was re-named back to the 'Central Expressway' from 'Kandy Expressway', Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe again launched the construction of the expressway by laying a foundation stone in February 2017 with the first phase expected to be completed in 2.5 years. [9]

Construction

Construction of the Central Expressway will be carried out in four phases: Phase 1 - a 37 km section from Kadawatha to Mirigama; Phase 2 - a 40 km section between Mirigama and Kurunagala. Phase 3 - Pothuhara to Galagedara 33km and Phase 4 - Kurunagala to Dambulla 60km section. [10]

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 Mirigama,[11] with fifty overpasses and thirty underpasses along the route. The initial estimated cost of Phase One was approx. Rs. 70.0bn,[11] with more recent costs estimated at Rs. 130bn.[12]Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe launched the construction of the expressway by laying a foundation stone in August 2015 for this phase.

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 overpasses and five underpasses. Interchanges are proposed at Dewalegama, Rambukkana, Hetharaliyadda and Hedeniya.[11] The tentative cost of construction for Phase Two is Rs. 90.0bn.[11] Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe launched the construction of the expressway by laying a foundation stone in February 2017 for this Phase and will be completed in 2019. This Phase will be totally completed by local construction companies for the 1st time in Sri Lanka.

Phase three

Cost for this stage 3 stretch of the expressway has been estimated at Rs.135 billion. Awarding of the contract for Central Expressway Stage III have stirred up questions and controversy. It was revealed that funding for the third phase also from commercial loan with a high interest rates. [13] President Maithripala Sirisena had said the tender procedure was violated when awarding the contract for the expressway. In September 2017, Prime minister Ranil Wickramasinghe had to make a parliament statement regarding this. [14]

See also

  • Roads portal
  • Sri Lanka portal

References

  1. ↑ https://www.newsradio.lk/2017/01/06/colombo-kandy-highway-named-sri-dalada-highway/
  2. ↑ "New hopes over Kandy-Colombo Expressway | Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. ↑ http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15B/Jul31_1438335472CH.php
  4. ↑ "Developing "Greater Kandy"".
  5. 1 2 3 Bandara, Kelum (27 November 2013). "Kandy Expressway to begin in Jan". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Northern Expressway to Kandy". Daily FT. 6 August 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Northern Expressway work launched". Colombo Gazette. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Construction for Northern Expressway Begins". Hiru News. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  9. ↑ http://www.dailymirror.lk/81945/colombo-kandy-expressway-work-begins
  10. ↑ "Central Expressway Stage III: Rush to award contract, no rush to answer questions". 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "North East (Colombo Kandy) Expressway (CKH)". Ministry of Highways, Ports & Shipping. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Work on Colombo - Kandy leg of Northern Expressway to commence by this year". Pakistan Defence Forum. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Japan's assistance that is making way for Central Expressway is a commercial loan?". 21 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  14. ↑ "Central Expressway's construction work will go ahead: PM". 8 September 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
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