Access Engineering lands Polgahawela flyover contract

Friday, 17 June 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Access Engineering PLC, was recently awarded the sub-contract to construct Polgahawela flyover; a much needed solution for heavy traffic snarls daily amass at the Polgahawela Railway Crossing.

The project is spearheaded by the Road Development Authority under the Ministry of Higher Education and Highways and is funded by the Government of Spain. The design and supply of the superstructure are entrusted to the main contractor; Centunion S.A. of Spain and the design of sub structure, on-site fabrication, installation and erection are subcontracted to Access Engineering PLC along with the construction of 766 m long approach roads system. Polgahawela Railway Station is located at an important railway junction where the main railway line from Colombo branches off to Jaffna in the North, Trincomalee and Batticaloa in the East and Kandy and Badulla in the upcountry. Around 130 trains travel to and fro through the Polgahawela rail junction necessitating continuous shunting of trains which leads to long gate closures for approximately 400 minutes per day at the level crossing located along Polgahawela – Kegalle road (A19). And this causes severe traffic congestion by the sides of the level crossing. The project which was initiated as a permanent solution to the situation at hand involves an erection of a 234 m long steel flyover which is comprised of 3.5 m wide two lane carriageway and 1.5 m wide two pedestrian ways with hand railings on either side. The flyover will be built on a six span steel superstructure of which the maximum span is of 45 m length. The approach road system comprises of 3.5 m wide two-lane carriageway and 1.2 m wide raised foot walks for pedestrians. The alignment of the flyover takes a detour around the existing level crossing to improve the overall road geometry while eliminating the need for extensive land acquisitions and utility re-locations. The engineering team of Access Engineering PLC has now commenced the groundwork of the project which is intended to be completed within 16 months. As a part of the approach road traverses across a marshy area, the engineering team is planning to take stringent measures on soft ground treatments where necessary.