Awareness on expressway

Irangika RANGE

The Ports and Highways Ministry will conduct awareness programmes on the use of Sri Lanka`s Southern Expressway.

Public awareness programmes will be introduced through the print and electronic media about the measures to be taken to guarantee a safer ride for those, who are eagerly waiting to enjoy this novel experience on an expressway.

The expressway is expected to open to the public before year's end. Accordingly, the Road Development Authority (RDA) will conduct the awareness programmes this month for print and electronic media personnel to educate the general public on the use of the expressway.

A Ports and Highways Ministry's Spokesman said an awareness programme to educate the public and motorists will be conducted by the RDA and other relevant agencies, making use of electronic and print media giving a clear picture on how the expressway should be used.

The expressway will initially open with a manually operated toll collection system and subsequently be upgraded to a multi-option state-of-the-art toll operation. He said that the expressway with a length of 95.2 Km from Kottawa to Galle, will be beneficial in reducing travel time and transport costs, since it has been designed as an access control toll expressway. Although the expressway has been designed for a speed of 120 Kmph, the actual maximum speed permitted would be 100 Kmph. Discussions are still going on whether to impose a minimum speed limit on expressway users to get the maximum advantage of the expressway.