Central Expressway (Sri Lanka)

Last updated

Sri Lanka E04 expressway.svg
Central Expressway
Route information
Maintained by the Road Development Authority
Length137 km (85 mi)
Major junctions
South end Kadawatha  E02  Outer Circular Expressway
North end Dambulla
Location
Country Sri Lanka
Highway system
  • Roads in Sri Lanka

The Central Expressway (E04), is an under construction road project that will link the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, with Kurunegala & Kandy. It will provide a fast alternative to the existing A1 Colombo - Kandy & A6 Ambepussa - Trincomalee Highways. The Expressway starts at the Kadawatha Interchange on the E02 Outer Circular Expressway and ends in Dambulla at the A9 Kandy - Jaffna Highway, traversing through Gampaha, Kurunegala & Matale Districts. [1] A link Expressway starting from Pothuhera & ending in Galagedara will provide access to the Kandy District. [1]

Contents

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] The final environment impact assessment made by May 2016. [1]

The second stage of the project, which connects Meerigama to Kurunegala was opened to the public on 15 January 2022.[ citation needed ]

Construction

Construction of the Central Expressway will be carried out in four Stages as follows: [10]

Stage 1

The construction of first stage from Kadawatha to Mirigama 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 interchanges at Kadawatha, Gampaha, Veyangoda and Mirigama, [11] with fifty overpasses and thirty underpasses along the route. The initial estimated cost of Phase One was approx. Rs. 70bn, [11] with more recent costs estimated at Rs.130bn. [12] Then Prime Minister, now President Ranil Wickramasinghe launched the construction of the expressway by laying a foundation stone in August 2015 for this phase. The project completion was delayed which the Government has already incurred a loss of around Rs. 30 billion as a result.

Stage 2

Construction of the second stage of the project from Mirigama to Kurunegala, will also be a four-lane divided carriageway for a length of 40.91 km (25.42 mi), with thirty overpasses and five underpasses. Interchanges are proposed at Nakalagamuwa, Dambokka, Kurunegala and Yaggapitiya. [11] The tentative cost of construction for Phase Two is Rs. 149.0bn. [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 2021 This Phase will be totally completed by local construction companies for the 1st time in Sri Lanka.

Stage 3

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] The construction was re-commenced in Dec. 2020 by PM Mahinda Rajapaksha. [15]

Interchanges

Location [16] Distance from KadawathaType of interchangeDescription
Kadawatha0.000System ICSystem IC with Outer Circular Highway
Gampaha11.3Service ICGampha-Minuwangoda New Road
Veyangoda22.0Service ICService IC with Veyangoda–Ruwanwella (B445) Road
Mirigama South33.37Service ICMirigama Divulapitiya Negambo  Road
Mirigama North37.8Service/System

IC

Service IC Pasyala Giriulla Road and System IC with Ambepussa link Road
Ambepussa47.1JunctionAmbepussa–Kurunagala–Trincomalee Road (A006 Road)
Nakalagamuwa55.5Service ICService IC with Alawwa–Dampelessa (B008) Road
Pothuhara62.8System ICSystem IC  with section 3 of CEP

(Expressway link to Kandy)

Dambokka70.4Service ICAmbepussa–Kurunagala–Trincomalee Road (A006 Road)
Kurunegala75.8Service ICKatugastota–Kurunagala–Puttalam Road (A 010 Road)
Rideegama92.6Service ICThalgodapitiya–Yatawatta–Dombawela Road (B409)
Melsiripura101.9Service ICAmbepussa–Kurunagala–Trincomalee Road (A006 Road)
Galewela115.4Service ICAmbepussa–Kurunagala–Trincomalee Road (A006 Road)
Dambulla (A- 9)129.5Service ICKandy–Jaffna Road (A009 Road)
Dambulla136.9Service ICAmbepussa–Kurunagala–Trincomalee Road (A006 Road)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Sri Lanka</span>

Transport in Sri Lanka is based on its road network, which is centred on the country's commercial capital Colombo. A rail network handles a portion of Sri Lanka's transport needs. There are navigable waterways, harbours and three international airports: in Katunayake, 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Colombo, in Hambantota, and in Jaffna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gamini Dissanayake</span> Sri Lankan politician

Dissanayake Mudiyanse Ralahamilage Lionel Gamini Dissanayake, PC was a prominent Sri Lankan politician, a powerful minister of the United National Party, and Leader of the Opposition. He was designated as the UNP candidate in the 1994 presidential election, but was then assassinated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurunegala</span> City in Sri Lanka

Kurunegala is a major city in Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of the North Western Province and the Kurunegala District. Kurunegala was an ancient royal capital for 50 years, from the end of the 13th century to the start of the 14th century. It is at the junction of several main roads linking to other important parts of the country. It is about 94 kilometres (58 mi) from Colombo, 42 kilometres (26 mi) from Kandy and 51 kilometres (32 mi) from Matale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Negombo</span> City in Western Province, Sri Lanka

Negombo is a major city in Sri Lanka, situated on the west coast and at the mouth of the Negombo Lagoon, in the Western Province, 38 km (24 mi) from Colombo via the Colombo–Katunayake Expressway and the nearest major city from the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Kadawatha is a large suburb of Gampaha, in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the A1 highway, approximately 16 km (9.9 mi) away from the centre of Colombo. Industrial machines, factories, diesel motor houses, strategic investments and leisure destinations are some of the industries established there. Kadawatha is a collection of many ruralities, including Biyagama, Mahara, Ganemulla, Kirillawala, Rammuthugala, Dalupitiya, Karagahamuna, Biyanwila and Kirimatiyagaraya.

Ambepussa is a town in the Kegalle District, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka.

Mirigama is a town in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. It is located 57 km (35 mi) from Colombo, 46 km (29 mi) from Kurunegala and 34 km (21 mi) from Negombo.

The A1 road is an A-Grade trunk road in Sri Lanka. It connects the capital city of Colombo with Kandy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakshman Kiriella</span> Sri Lankan politician and lawyer

Lakshman Bandara Kiriella, MP is a Sri Lankan politician and lawyer. He is a Member of Parliament from the Kandy District, former Leader of the House of the parliament. Also he held office as Minister of Public Enterprises and Kandy Development and as Minister of Higher Education and Highways from 2015 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sajith Premadasa</span> Sri Lankan politician

Sajith Premadasa is a Sri Lankan politician. He is the current Leader of the Opposition of Sri Lanka and Member of Parliament for Colombo District. He is the current leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Mohamed Hashim Mohamed Kabir popularly known as Kabir Hashim is a Sri Lankan politician and economist. He is a former member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka representing the Kegalle District and former Minister of Highways, Higher Education and Investment Promotion. Kabir was formerly the General Secretary of the United National Party.

J. P. Dayasiri Padma Kumara Jayasekara is a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament. He is the District Leader of the SLFP for the Kurunegala District and Organizer for the Paduwasnuwara Electorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E02 expressway (Sri Lanka)</span> Road in Sri Lanka

The Colombo Outer Circular Expressway is a highway in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was opened in sections. The 29 km (18 mi) long outer circular road network links the Colombo - Matara Expressway with Colombo - Katunayake Expressway and the proposed Colombo - Kandy Expressway and will provide an orbital beltway to bypass the city of Colombo and reduce traffic congestion. The project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The expressway is named "Arthur C. Clarke Expressway" in honor of Arthur C. Clarke, a famous science fiction writer and futurist who lived in Sri Lanka from 1956 to his death in 2008.

Narammala, is a major town in Sri Lanka, situated in the middle of the North Western Province, 85.3 km (53.0 mi) from Colombo, via the Colombo - Katunayake Expressway or 54 km (34 mi) from Negombo, via Mirigama-Nakalagamuwa Expressway. Narammala is the location of the world's first and only betel research lab and institute, which is located at Dampelessa, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) from Narammala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kandy railway station</span> Railway station in Kandy, Sri Lanka

Kandy railway station is a major railway station in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The station is served by Sri Lanka Railways and is the primary railway station in Kandy and one of the most significant in the central hills. The station sits on a branch of the Main Line, leading to the Matale Line.

The Ministry of Highways, Ports and Shipping was a Sri Lankan government ministry responsible for the governance, implementation, creation and development of Ports including Colombo, Galle and Trincomalee ports, Highways including Southern expressway, Colombo Outer Circular expressway, Katunayake expressway and their transport services. It was reorganized as two separate ministries, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Ministry of Higher Education and Highways following the formation of the Sirisena cabinet in January 2015.

Danowita is a small town in the western province of Sri Lanka. It is 50 kilometres (31 mi) to Colombo, 59 kilometres (37 mi) to Kandy, and 45 kilometres (28 mi) to Kurunagala. The A1 highway passes by Danowita. Bandaranaike International Airport is the nearest airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malik Samarawickrama</span>

Malik Devapriya Samarawickrama is a Sri Lankan entrepreneur and politician. He was appointed to Parliament as a national list member in 2015. He is a former Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade and chairman of the United National Party.

Jayampathy Wickramaratne, PC is a Sri Lankan lawyer and politician. He was a national list member representing the United National Party in the Parliament. A former Director of Programs of the Institute of Constitutional Studies in Colombo, he has served as a Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs and was a member of the Sri Lankan Law Commission. He entered parliament in 2015 General Election from the National List of the United National Party. He was also appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe. Wickramaratne the key person behind the proposed 2018 constitution of Sri Lanka.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Region Megapolis</span> Urban planning region of Sri Lanka

The Western Region Megapolis is an urban planning, zoning, and development area stretching from Negombo in the north to Beruwala in the south. It is designed to create a megapolis in Sri Lanka's Western Province by 2030.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Proposed Central Expressway Project: Kadawatha to Dambulla (Sections 01, 02 and 04): Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report: Volume I – Main Report" (PDF). Center for Sustainability. May 2016.
  2. ↑ "New hopes over Kandy-Colombo Expressway | Adaderana Biz English | Sri Lanka Business News". www.adaderana.lk. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
  3. ↑ "Sri Lanka : Construction work of Colombo-Kandy expressway to begin on Monday". www.colombopage.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015.
  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. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Northern Expressway work launched". Colombo Gazette. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Construction for Northern Expressway Begins". Hiru News. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  9. ↑ "Colombo-Kandy expressway work begins - Breaking News | Daily Mirror".
  10. ↑ "Home". cep.rda.gov.lk.
  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.
  15. ↑ html "Construction-work-on-third-stretch-of-Central-Expressway-begins-today". 19 December 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.{{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  16. ↑ Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report Volume I - Main Report. Road Development Authority, Ministry of Higher Education and Highways. May 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.