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

  • Bridge under discussion for UK's Thames River
    March 22, 2012
    Engineering specialist AECOM will carry out a study into the proposed Lower Thames Crossing project in the UK.
  • Indeco cuts up New York City’s old Kosciuszko Bridge
    November 23, 2017
    An Indeco ISS 45/90 is proving essential for demolishing the old Kosciuszko Bridge in New York City. New York City’s old 1.9km Kosciuszko Bridge, which crosses Newtown Creek connecting Green Point, Brooklyn with Maspeth, Queens, has been out of service since April. By the end of the year, the polygonal Warren through-truss structure will be no more. To replace the old bridge, in 2009, the New York State Department of Transportation planned the construction of two cable-stayed replacement bridges.
  • India’s longest tolled expressway is open to traffic
    January 2, 2013
    Earlier this year, a new expressway was opened to traffic in India, adding connectivity to the country’s road network - Mike Woof reports. India’s economic growth has fuelled a massive construction boom in the country. Road building has been set as a priority by the Indian Government to help ensure continued economic development and improve connectivity between major population centres. One major new expressway has recently opened to traffic, having been designed to international standards and provides insi
  • Construction underway for key Sri Lanka route
    July 8, 2015
    Construction of a new expressway connecting Hambantota with Matara is now underway in Sri Lanka. This new expressway will link with the existing southern expressway that runs between Matara and Colombo through the southern town of Galle. The new Hambantota-Matara expressway is cost US$180 million to construct. Funding for the project has been provided by the Exim Bank of China.