Southern Expressway is the first expressway in Sri Lanka and it is the longest expressway out of proposed expressway network. It runs from Kottawa to Matara (126 km) and also include Galle Fort Access road. Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Bank of International Corporation (JBIC) are the main funding agencies for this project. Section from Kottawa to Kurundugahahetekma (65 km) was undertaken by JBIC and section from Kurundugahahetekma to Godagama, Matara (64.8 km) was undertaken by ADB.
Southern Expressway will be extended up to Hambantota in it's later stages.
It is expected to open the Southern Expressway from Kottawa to Gall Fort Access (Pinnaduwa) before end of Year 2011. At the initial stage of operation of the expressway the maximum speed limit will be 100 km/h.
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| Southern Expressway Map |
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| a night view |
Project Objectives
- Improve transport facilities for future development of Southern Region.
- Provide a highway to act as a catalyst in encouraging and attracting industries and services for the Economic and Social development of the region.
- To promote inter-regional transport facilities by developing this road, considering it as a major component of the proposed Expressway network.
Current Travel Time
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Expected Travel Time on Expressway
| |
| Colombo - Matara |
4 1/2 - 5 hrs
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2 hrs
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| Colombo - Galle |
3 1/2 - 4 hrs
|
less than
1 1/2 hrs |
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| Kottawa Interchange |
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| Kahathuduwa Interchange |
Benefits of the Project
- Reduce travel time between Colombo to Matara.
- Reduce traffic congestion on Colombo-Matara Road, and reduce delay costs, fuel costs there by contributing to national economy.
- Attract private sector investors and there by contributing to expand the job market
- Development of fisheries, agriculture, industries in the region .
- Expand tourism presently confined to the coastal belt, along Colombo-Galle-Matara.
- Development of Galle port.
- Development of the towns belong to 11 interchanges as Economic Centers
- Enhance the value of land and property in the region
| Kottawa | : | (0+000) | - | 23rd km of the High level road (Colombo Rathnapura Road) |
| Kahatuduwa | (5+900) | - | 19th km of the Colombo Horana Road | |
| Gelanigama | : | (13+600) | - | 12th km of the Panadura Nambapana Rathnapura Road |
| Dodangoda | : | (34+700) | - | 08th km of the Nagoda - Matugama Road (Nagoda Kalawellawa Bellapitiya) |
| Welipanna | (46+000) | - | 43rd km of the Horana Anguruwathota Aluthgama Road | |
| Kurundugahetekma | (66+000) | - | 13th km of the Ambalangoda – Elpitiya Road | |
| Baddegama | (14+800) | - | 12th km of the Hikaduwa- Badegama- Nilhena Road | |
| Pinnaduwa | (30+000) | |||
| Total Length | : | Kottawa to Matara | - | 126 km |
| Galle fort Access | - | 4.9 km | ||
| Design Speed | : | 120 km/h | - | |
| Stage I | : | Kottawa to Dodangoda | - | 4 Lane |
| Dodangoda to Godagama | - | 2 Lane | ||
| Final Stage | : | Kottawa to Matara | - | Widening of 6 Lanes |
Toll charges
Toll charges will be levied in four categories for all vehicles. The access controlled Expressway has eight interchanges at Kottawa, Kahatuduwa, Gelanigama, Dodangoda, Welipenna, Kurundugahahethakma, Baddegama and Pinnaduwa.
Cars, dual purpose vehicles and light motor trucks will come under the first category for which Rs. 100 will be levied from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 150 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 200 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 250 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 300 from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethakma, Rs. 350 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.
Light Motor Coaches including passenger transporting vans with more than nine seats and passenger transporting buses with between nine and thirty three seats which fall under the second category will be charged a fee of Rs. 200 from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 200 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 600 from Kottawa to Kurudugahahethakma Rs. 600 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 700 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.
Heavy vehicles, including buses with more than 33 passenger seats, lorries and trucks with two axles and six wheels and lorries and trucks with three axles will come under the third category for which a toll charge of Rs. 300 will be made from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 300 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 600 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 700 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 1000 from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethakma, Rs. 1200 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 1500 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.
Under the fourth category, which includes heavy vehicles including heavy motor coaches and heavy motor lorries with four axles will be levied a toll charge of Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Kahathuduwa, Rs. 400 from Kottawa to Gelanigama, Rs. 800 from Kottawa to Dodangoda, Rs. 1000 from Kottawa to Welipenna, Rs. 1500 from Kottawa to Kurundugahahethakma, Rs. 1800 from Kottawa to Baddegama and Rs. 2000 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa.
Information credit: http://www.rda.gov.lk
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