1 January 2021 03:45 am
The new Kelani bridge project which is Sri Lanka's first ever cable- stayed venture will be completed by July 2021, Highways Minister Johnston Fernando said yesterday.
Minister Fernando said this during an inspection tour he made to monitor the progress of the project.
“This will be Sri Lanka's first bridge that is being constructed on cables.this new Kelani Bridge project is being constructed as the capacity of the existing Kelani Bridge cannot handle the traffic movement which is coming from the Katunayake Airport," the Minister said.
He said the government is planning to complete the elevated highway which runs from the new Kelani Bridge to Athurugriya as soon as possible.“we will also complete the stretch from Orugodawatte to the Colombo Port as well," the Minister said.
The length of the new Kelani Bridge which will run over the Kelani River will be 380 m.“the new Kelani Bridge project comprises two packages.the cost of the first package will be Rs. 31,593 million while the cost of the second package will be Rs. 9,896 million," he said.
“This project was planned in 2014. We will continue and complete the project despite the pandemic," he said. (Yohan Perera)