SL's first suspension bridge project in Kelaniya

Colombo (News 1st) - Construction of the New Kelani Bridge, which is aimed at solving the traffic congestion in Colombo and surrounding areas is currently underway. Heavy traffic can be usually seen on the route during rush hour. The New Kelani Bridge Project was launched as a solution to this in 2014 and the 3km long bridge will be Sri Lanka's First ever state of the art suspension bridge. The six-lane bridge will run over the Kelani River with necessary inter-change and access roads. The Japan International Cooperation Agency is providing a financial assistance of 35,020 Mn Japanese Yen for the construction of this bridge. The government has claimed 12.9 hectares of land for this project and the bridge will link to the Colombo Katunayake Expressway as well. Construction is to be completed in 2020 and the 300 families removed from the area were resettled in the Laksanda Housing Complex in Wellampitiya in April this year. The Project Director Darshika Jayasekera stated that the bridge is being constructed in two phases.