Skip to main content

New bridge spanning Kelani River in Sri Lanka

Work is underway in Sri Lanka on a new bridge spanning the Kelani River. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is supplying funding worth some US$344.4 million for the bridge project, which is intended to improve transport connections to and from capital Colombo. The project is facing design challenges as the river is prone to flooding. As a result the design of the bridge features a thick deck and short towers, but without any piers. The 380m long structure will carry six lanes of traffic, with three
April 8, 2014 Read time: 1 min
Work is underway in Sri Lanka on a new bridge spanning the Kelani River. The 3349 Japan International Cooperation Agency is supplying funding worth some US$344.4 million for the bridge project, which is intended to improve transport connections to and from capital Colombo. The project is facing design challenges as the river is prone to flooding. As a result the design of the bridge features a thick deck and short towers, but without any piers. The 380m long structure will carry six lanes of traffic, with three in either direction. Once the bridge is complete it is expected to cut journey times as drivers will be able to use this link rather than a longer route involving crossing bridges some distance away at Orugodawatte.

Related Content

  • New bridge crossing for Louisiana
    February 8, 2019
    A new bridge carrying Interstate 10 is being planned for Calcasieu in Louisiana. The new structure is expected to cost from US$400-600 million to construct and will feature three lanes in either direction, with provision also for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge will be built to the north of the existing I-10 bridge, which was constructed in 1952 and is no longer able to cope adequately with the traffic volumes it carries. The new bridge is expected to be funded privately, with tolls for drivers crossin
  • Turkey’s important new tunnel will improve transport links
    May 18, 2016
    Major advances in tunnelling will allow cars to travel underneath the Bosphorus sea channel in Turkey's Istanbul next year when its third road link is opened, writes Adrian Greeman. The Bosphorus is redolent with history and strategic significance. As one of the world's most significant sea connections, linking the landlocked Black Sea to the Marmara Sea and the Mediterranean beyond, it has been vitally important for trade and crucial for military access. It is also one of the biggest obstacles for land tra
  • Alberta’s peaceful partnership
    May 4, 2020
    A bridge project in northern Canada threw up some unexpected challenges, reports David Arminas, from the banks of the Peace River in Alberta
  • Mumbai’s new coastal transport link
    July 6, 2022
    Mumbai’s new coastal road presents an ambitious and challenging project that will help improve the lives of the city’s inhabitants - Mike Woof writes