Linking all expressways in the country, Phase I of the Outer Circular Highway (OCH) connecting the Southern Expressway to Kaduwela will be declared open on March, 8. The 29.1 Km Highway built in three phases, is to link al expressways I and major roads such as Southern, Northern and Kandy Expressways as well as Colombo- Awissawella, Colombo- Kandy and Colombo- Negombo Roads.
Funded by JICA, Phase I of the project, connecting Kottawa to Kaduwela, was constructed by the China Harbour Engineering Company.
With Phase II of the project connecting Kaduwela to Kadawatha underway, tenders are being called for Phase III connecting Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya.
The 11 Km from Kottawa to Kaduwela was constructed at a cost of RS.24.9 billion and the Speed limit will be 100 kmph for the rest of the road.
The Expressway will be monitored by a network of CCTV cameras which are only connected to the main control room. Rules and regulations for Southern Expressway apply to the Outer Circular as well.
The Colombo Outer Circular will have interchanges of
- Kottawa
- Pore
- Kaduwela
- Kadawatha
- Kerawalapitiya
- Mattumagala
The four lane highway has been constructed with the Intention of ‘ expanding it to a six lane highway with the increase of I traffic in the future. Once completed the OCH is to reduce traffic congestion in Colombo.
One of the prominent features of this expressway is the 3.2 kilometre long viaduct constructed to have this expressway on elevated form across the marshy land in Mahawela between Pore and Kothalawala.lt will be the longest viaduct or bridge in Sri Lanka.
This is constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.2 billion the bridge is built to ensure the flood pattern of the area remained the same.
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