Longest concreted road opens in April

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The country's longest concrete road is now being constructed from Mannar to Nawakkuli by the Road Development Authority under the Uthuru Vasanthaya Development Program.

The road known as the A32, that goes via Pooneryn and Karathivu is 98.3 kilometres in length. Of the 98.3 kilometres, a 17 kilometre distance from Mannar to Vedithalathive is being laid with concrete under the first phase of the road development project.

It commenced in June 2009 and is expected to be commissioned by April this year. The RDA is yet to decide whether the remaining stretch will be concreted and carpeted. However, the 17 kilometre stretch of road is said to be the longest concrete road in Sri Lanka.

The road consisting of two lanes is 10.2 metre wide. The cost for concreting a kilometre is Rs 72 million.

Due to the scarcity of metal in the area, especially in and around Mannar, the RDA has taken steps to lay concrete on the road instead of carpeting. However, concrete roads are long lasting than ordinary carpeted roads, Project Engineer Sudarman Ravindra said.