Work on the longest overhead bridge in Sri Lanka inaugurated
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Artist's impression of new bridge
The construction work on the proposed Rajagiriya overhead bridge which is considered to be the longest in the country was inaugurated in front of the Welikada Police Station, Rajagiriya this week under the patronage of the organiser of Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha De Silva and Minister of Higher Education and Highways Lakshman Kiriella. In a media release, the Road Development Authority (RDA) stated that the 534-metre-long four lane Rajagiriya overhead bridge will be the longest of its kind in Sri Lanka. Dr. de Silva has stated that the first phase of this project is due to be completed at the end of next year and the second is scheduled to be completed in late 2018.
It is estimated that generally more than 100,000 vehicles move across the Welikada Junction Rajagiriya daily. These vehicles running from the main road as well as from the other lanes are causing heavy traffic congestion to the motorists. Irrespective of by-roads, about 30,000 vehicles enter into Colombo City on a daily basis by using this main road. About 17,000 of these vehicles directly travel towards Colombo without using by-roads while the remaining 13,000 use by-roads. ”When these vehicles enter the main road from by-roads, it causes delays for the vehicles which are travelling on the main road,” Dr. De Silva said. “Therefore our expectation is to use this flyover for the vehicles which travel directly to Colombo and for those which travel from Colombo to Battaramulla.
The experts in the field of transportation have stated that this will be a solution for the heavy traffic in the city.” The average speed of a vehicle from Diyatha Uyana to Devi Balika Vidyalaya is about 2.5 to 3 km per hour as a result of this heavy traffic congestion. In the evening, this speed is about 9 km per hour. It is estimated that the speed recommended for the section from Diyatha Uyana to Devi Balika Vidyalaya would increase up to 20 km per hour. According to experts in this field, it takes on 50 per cent of the present period of time taken to travel from Nelum Pokuna to Battaramulla under this project. This project will be funded under the relief credit line by the government of Spain and the value of the investment will be approximately Rs.500 million. -(NG)