E04 expressway (Sri Lanka)

The Central Expressway (E04), is a proposed road project that will link the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, with Kandy. It will provide a fast alternative to the existing A1 Road (Colombo-Kandy Road), which has a lot of bottlenecks and difficult terrain near Kandy.

Central Expressway
Sri Dalada Highway [1]
Route information
Maintained by the Road Development Authority
Length99 km (62 mi)
Major junctions
South endKadawatha  E02  Outer Circular Expressway
North endKatugastota
Highway system
Expressways of Sri Lanka

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 [10].

Construction

Construction of the Central Expressway will be carried out in four Stages as follows[11]:

  • Stage 1 - Kadawatha (0.0km) to Meerigama (37.1km)
  • Stage 2 - Meerigama (37.1km) to Kurunegala (76.8km) and Ambepussa link road (9.3km)
  • Stage 3 - Pothuhera (0.0km) to Galagedara (Kandy) (32.5km)
  • Stage 4 - Kurunegala (76.8km) to Dambulla (137.1km)

Stage one

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 to be interchanges at Kadawatha, Gampaha, Balabowa and Mirigama,[12] with fifty overpasses and thirty underpasses along the route. The initial estimated cost of Phase One was approx. Rs. 70.0bn,[12] with more recent costs estimated at Rs. 130bn.[13]Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe launched the construction of the expressway by laying a foundation stone in August 2015 for this phase.

Stage two

Construction of the second stage of the project from Mirigama to Katugastota, will also be a four-lane divided carriageway for a length of 50.7 km (31.5 mi), with thirty overpasses and five underpasses. Interchanges are proposed at Dewalegama, Rambukkana, Hetharaliyadda and Hedeniya.[12] The tentative cost of construction for Phase Two is Rs. 90.0bn.[12] 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 three

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. [14] 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. [15]

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See also
  •  Roads portal
  •  Sri Lanka portal

References
  1. https://www.newsradio.lk/2017/01/06/colombo-kandy-highway-named-sri-dalada-highway/%5B%5D
  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. http://www.colombopage.com/archive_15B/Jul31_1438335472CH.php
  4. "Developing "Greater Kandy"".
  5. 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. http://www.dailymirror.lk/81945/colombo-kandy-expressway-work-begins
  10. "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.
  11. http://www.cep.rda.gov.lk/
  12. "North East (Colombo Kandy) Expressway (CKH)". Ministry of Highways, Ports & Shipping. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  13. "Work on Colombo - Kandy leg of Northern Expressway to commence by this year". Pakistan Defence Forum. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  14. "Japan's assistance that is making way for Central Expressway is a commercial loan?". 21 October 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  15. "Central Expressway's construction work will go ahead: PM". 8 September 2017. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
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