New bridge link for Sri Lanka

A new bridge spanning Sri Lanka’s Mahaweli River and close to the city of Kandy has been officially opened. The bridge link connects the neighbouring villages of Dodanwala and Halloluwa in Sri Lanka’s Central Province and was opened by Maithripala Sirisena, the country’s president. The bridge is nearly 105m long and replaces a 75 year old suspension bridge that was no longer fit for purpose. The old structure carried pedestrian traffic only while the new bridge carries two lanes of vehicle traffic, as well
January 10, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
A new bridge spanning Sri Lanka’s Mahaweli River and close to the city of Kandy has been officially opened. The bridge link connects the neighbouring villages of Dodanwala and Halloluwa in Sri Lanka’s Central Province and was opened by Maithripala Sirisena, the country’s president. The bridge is nearly 105m long and replaces a 75 year old suspension bridge that was no longer fit for purpose. The old structure carried pedestrian traffic only while the new bridge carries two lanes of vehicle traffic, as well as having double cantilever foot walks. The new bridge is a modular steel type made from a Mabey Compact 200 system while the pedestrian provision is protected by the new Mabey SmartEdge System.

With the opening of the new bridge the distance to drive between the two villages will be reduced by 10km. The new link will also lower traffic volumes on other routes, as well as helping to increase tourism in the area, a sector on which Sri Lanka’s economy relies heavily.
Road Structures

Related Content

  • Boom in Asian infrastructure investment
    February 8, 2012
    Investment in China and India continues unabated, but other nations on the continent are eager to attract companies as Patrick Smith reports Asia is still booming despite the current economic crisis, and new infrastructure programmes are constantly coming on stream. Powerhouses China and India, with their double-digit growth figures and huge infrastructure plans (in scope and cost), are leading the way and are still magnets for businesses wishing to expand, both in terms of facilities and customers. But oth
    Read More
  • Sri Lanka transport boost
    September 29, 2016
    Major plans to upgrade Sri Lanka’s transportation network are being developed. The plans call for upgrades to roads, rail and port facilities right across the country, in a bid to boost the economy. Assistance in preparing the improvement plans for roads, rail links and port facilities is being provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The focus will be on improving transport links both between and within the country’s major towns and cities. One of the priority projects so far identified is for a new r
    Read More
  • $270 million Tanzania bridge opens
    July 2, 2025
    A $270 million bridge has opened in Tanzania.
    Read More
  • Mozambique’ new bridge opens to traffic
    November 14, 2018
    Mozambique’s new suspension bridge connecting Maputo with Catembe is now open to traffic. The suspension bridge is the longest of its type in Africa, measuring almost 3km-long and surpassing the previous holder of this accolade, the Mapati Bridge in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The new bridge spans Maputo Bay and forms part of a new highway connection running from Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, all the way to the border with South Africa. The route will be of major benefit for Mozambique, helping to boo
    Read More

Highlighted Content