New road linking North to be opened

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Fulfilling a long felt need, the road constructed from Padeniya to Anuradhapura will be ceremonially opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on April 8 at 10 a.m.

The new road named Nidahas Raja Mawatha, which links the North to the South has been constructed at a cost of Rs 7,000 million. Under the construction plan, the 80 kilometre road from Padeniya to Anuradhapura has been widened to 15 metres. The road consists of 3.5 metre wide twin traffic lanes and 1.5 metre wide twin cycle lanes for the use of motorcyclists and foot cyclists. This is the only road, which has cycle lanes. Cycle lanes provide more secure and safer rides for cyclists. Besides, the road has two, two metre wide gravel lanes for pedestrians.

The construction was completed within three years under the supervision of Ports and Highways Ministry and Road Development Authority. The new road takes in a heavy traffic volume, which the century old road was ill-equipped to cater to, easing the heavy traffic congestion between Padeniya and Anuradhapura especially during the Poson season.

The road, that links Kurunegala to Anuradhapura was in a poor and dilapidated condition for years until the government took measures to renovate it considering it as an urgent need in the country’s rapid development march. After commissioning, the road will create easy access to Jaffna, Vavuniya and many other locations.