Kelaniya Flyover opening today

Irangika RANGE

KELANIYA: The Kelaniya flyover will be opened today easing congestion on the Colombo-Kandy road. The project was completed in just 60 days setting a world record.

Highways and Road Development Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told the Daily News that the feat represented a new landmark in the highways and roads development sector.

“This construction is a world record since the assembly of the prefabricated flyover was completed within 60 days,” he said.

“The record was earlier held by the Philippines. The Philippines Government completed assembling the prefabricated Malos flyover in Manila in 66 days. It is 300 meters in length.”

This was the first flyover built under the Government’s project to construct 222 bridges countrywide.

The length of the Kelaniya flyover is 325 meters. Under the first phase of the Kelaniya flyover, two lanes have been constructed. The second phase of the project is due to commence next month with the intention of constructing two lanes. The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs. 2.1 billion.

He said the Kelaniya flyover was built across the Peliyagoda railway crossing on the Colombo-Kandy main road to ease traffic congestion.

He said the Government has also embarked on a project to construct 20 flyovers and 218 bridges islandwide with Sterling Pounds 125 million assistance from the British Government.

A British Company in collaboration with the Access Engineering Company carried out the construction of the flyover.

According to the Railway Control Room, the Peliyagoda railway crossing is closed cumulatively eight hours a day.

He said around 75,000 vehicles travel along the railway crossing per day and it is a huge time waste due to traffic congestion. The Ministry is planing to commence the construction of the second flyover in Panadura on March 31.