Southern Expressway speeds to Matara

Monday, 17 March 2014 00:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Second Phase of the Southern Expressway from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara was declared open by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday.

Construction on the highway began in 2006 and the first phase from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa in Galle was declared open in November 2011. The expressway will reduce the time taken to travel from Colombo to Matara (161 km) to one-and-a-half hours from the current four hours, and currently reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle (116 km) to one hour from the three hours taken by the regular Colombo-Matara highway. The section from Pinnaduwa in Galle to Godagama in Matara will have two interchanges at Imaduwa and Kokmaduwa, four bridges, 46 underpasses and 12 box culverts. The project costing $ 180 million was funded by the Exim Bank of China. Under the third phase, the Southern Expressway will be extended from Matara to Hambantota, connecting the Mattala International Airport to Colombo. The construction of the 75 km segment from Matara-Godagama to the Hambantota harbour via Beliatta, Andarawewa and Mattala will commence next month.