Work on elevated highway to reduce travel time between Colombo Fort and Ingurukade junction to 5 min commences

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday commenced the work on the first section of the 3,279 precast concrete sections of the Port Access Elevated Highway from Ingurukade Junction to the Colombo Port City. It was the first time precast concrete bridge technology was being used in the country, the Ministry said in a release.

The Ministry said the travel time between Ingurukade junction and Fort, which takes about 45 minutes now, would be reduced to five minutes once the project was completed. The 5.3 km highway on pillars will be connected to the New Kelani Bridge via the Ingurukade junction, near the Kelanitissa Power Station, and extend onwards to the Colombo Port City. It is going to be a four-lane highway built at a cost of Rs 28,002 million. The construction is to be carried out by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation under the supervision of the Road Development Authority and Ministry of Highways.

The Port Access Elevated Highway has five on-and-off ramp facilities to provide entrances at the Ingurukade Junction, near Wimaladhamra building at Pettah, Aluth Mawatha entrance, Galle Face entrance and the Port City entrance. The project will help ease traffic congestion in Colombo’s densely populated areas, improve connectivity between the country’s expressway network and Colombo port, provide better logistics services for freight operations, and facilitate regional trade.

In addition, a 17-storeyed Maritime Facilitation Centre is to be constructed outside the port perimeter instead of the buildings demolished to make way for the elevated highway. It is to be conducted by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation in a land belonging to the SLPA with the financial assistance of the Asian Development Bank at a cost of Rs 4,099 million within 24 months.

“The Sri Lanka Ports Authority offices, and other offices providing maritime services will be housed in the new building, and this will increase the efficiency by enabling people to obtain all these services under one roof. It has been envisaged to increase efficiency by an online network that would reduce the use of paper in the new centre,” Minister Fernando said.

Among those present at yesterday’s launching ceremony were Ports and Shipping Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure State Minister Nimal Lanza, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri, Project Director of the Port Access Elevated Highway project and other ministry officials.