Yan Oya bridge to connect Trinco, Pulmoddai

Irangika RANGE

Reconstruction work on the Yan Oya bridge linking Trincomalee and Pulmoddai to boost social and economic activities in the Eastern Province is nearing completion.

The bridge will be opened to the public soon, a Highways and Road Development Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.

The 150 metre long and nine metre wide bridge is being constructed on the B424 road from Trincomalee to Pulmoddai.

The public transport in the Trincomalee and Pulmoddai areas would be hassle free once this bridge opens.

It is reconstructed at a cost of Rs 570 million funded by the Spanish Government.

The bridge will facilitate the civilians to cross the Yan Oya. “They earlier crossed the oya by ferries,” he said.

He said work has been accelerated on a directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who submitted the Cabinet Paper as Highways and Road Development Minister in 2007.

Work on the new bridge commenced on June 17, 2007. The project will improve the market accessibility especially to transport the mineral sand in Pulmoddai to other areas and enable public transport at a low cost.

It is expected to strengthen economic activities in the Eastern, North and North Central Provinces.

The bridge is being constructed under the Eastern Reawakening Program supervised by the Road Development Authority and the Highways and Road Development Ministry, he said.