Work on longest overhead bridge worth Rs. 5 b kicks off

Friday, 10 June 2016 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The construction work on the proposed Rajagiriya overhead bridge which is considered to be the longest in the country was inaugurated in front of the Welikada Police Station, Rajagiriya this week under the patronage of distinguished guests including organiser of Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva and Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella.

The Road Development Authority states that the 534 metre long, four lane Rajagiriya overhead bridge will be the longest of that sort in Sri Lanka. Dr. de Silva has stated that the first phase of this project is due to be completed at the end of next year and the second is scheduled to be completed in late 2018.

It is estimated that generally more than 100,000 vehicles are moving across the Welikada Junction Rajagiriya daily. These vehicles running from the main road as well as from the other lanes are causing heavy traffic congestion to the motorists.

Irrespective of by-roads, about 30,000 vehicles enter into Colombo City on a daily basis by using this main road. About 17,000 of these vehicles directly travel towards Colombo without using by-roads. The rest of around 13,000 are using by roads.

Dr. Harsha de Silva said: “When these vehicles enter into the main road from by-roads, it causes delays for the vehicles which are travelling on the main road. Therefore our expectation is to use this flyover for the vehicles which travel directly to Colombo and for those which travel from Colombo to Battaramulla. The experts in the field of transportation have stated that this will be a solution for the heavy traffic in the city.”

The average speed of a vehicle from Diyatha Uyana to Devi Balika Vidyalaya is about 2.5-3 kilometres per hour, as a result of this heavy traffic congestion. In the evening, this speed is about 9 kilometres per hour.

It is estimated that the speed recommended for the section from Diyatha Uyana to Devi Balika Vidyalaya would increase up to 20 km per hour. According to experts in this field, it takes on 50% of the present period of time taken to travel from Nelum Pokuna to Battaramulla under this project.

This project will be funded under the relief credit line by the government of Spain and the value of the investment will be approximately Rs. 5 billion.

70% of this amount will be obtained at the relief interest rate of 0.15%. This loan is for a 40 year period with a grace period of four years.

The remaining 30% will be obtained at the interest rate of 1.95%. This amount should be paid back within 13 years with a grace period of three years.