Construction work on the first section of the 3,279 pre-cast concrete sections of the Port Access Elevated Highway from Ingurukade Junction to the Colombo Port City was inaugurated by Minister of Highways Johnston Fernando yesterday.
Issuing a statement, the Ministry of Highways said the project was inaugurated using the precast concrete bridge technology for the first time in Sri Lanka.
It said that the travel time between Ingurukade junction and Fort, which takes about 45 minutes now, would be reduced to five minutes once the project is completed.
The 5.3 km highway on pillars connects to the New Kelani Bridge from Ingurukade junction, near the Kelanitissa Power Station, and extends onwards to the Colombo Port City. It is going to be a four-lane highway at a cost of Rs 28,002 million. The construction is to be carried out by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation under the supervision of the Road Development Authority and Ministry of Highways.
The Port Access Elevated Highway has five on and off-ramp facilities to provide entrances at Ingurukade Junction, near the Wimaladhamra building at Pettah, Aluth Mawatha entrance, Galle Face entrance, and the Port City Entrance. The project will help alleviate traffic congestion in Colombo’s densely populated areas, improve connectivity between the country’s expressway network and Colombo’s international port, provide better logistics services for freight operations, and facilitate regional trade.
In addition, a 17-storied Maritime Facilitation Centre is to be constructed outside the port boundary to substitute for those buildings demolished to make way for the elevated highway. It is to be constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in a land belonging to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank at a cost of Rs 4,099 million within 24 months.
“This would help make services of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority offices and other offices providing maritime services to be housed in the new building, increasing efficiency by enabling people to obtain services provided by those offices under one roof. It has been envisaged to increase efficiency by an online network that would reduce the use of paper in the new centre,” Minister Fernando said.
Among those present at yesterday’s launching ceremony were Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways RWR Pemasiri, Project Director of the Port Access Elevated Highway project, and other ministry officials. (NewsWire)
