From Highway of Death to Highway of Prosperity

Rasika Somarathna in Kilinochchi

President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday opened the renovated A-9 highway (Jaffna-Kandy). The official function took place at the Kilinochchi town.

From being described as the Highway of Death during the 30-year-old conflict, today A-9 has become the Highway to Prosperity in the North.

The 320 km A-9 road that connects Jaffna peninsula in the North to the hill capital of Kandy was fully opened in mid-2009 after the end of the conflict. However, the highway was in a dilapidated condition. Reconstruction commenced in 2011 under the guidance of the President.

The renovation of A-9 Highway was carried out from Galkulama junction in the Anuradhapura district to Jaffna, spanning 153 kms at Rs 19,125 million.

The 153 km segment of road from Galkulama to Jaffna has been widened to four lanes with lanes reserved for motorcycles and pedestrians.

The entire road has been illuminated with street lamps.

Ports and Highways Ministry sources said the renovation of this segment began in February 7, 2011 and ended on May 30, 2013.

The contractor was China National Aero Technology International Engineering Corporation (CATIC-ENG) with the help from the Road Development Authority.

The total width of the road carpeted is 30 feet. Thirty five bridges have been constructed, with 273 culverts spanning the 153 kms.

The sources said 750,000 cu m of soil, 712,000 cu m of aggregate, 1,400 tonnes of reinforcement, 160,000 bags of cement and 11,650,000 litres of bitumen has been used in the construction.