Sri Lanka highway

Creation date: 25 October 2007

ERM International has awarded an environmental certificate to the proposed Colombo Katunayake Expressway. Vinci Corporation will now be able to raise the necessary finance to build it from international export credit agencies. Around US$200 million will be required, with the bulk of this raise from Malaysia, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Construction is now slated to begin by the end of the year and be completed within 24 months.

Once inaugurated, it will be the first road in Sri Lanka to levy tolls on users. It will also be the first road developed in the country without the government having to provide upfront finance. The road will be 25.8km long and involve five bypasses. There will be a minimum of two lanes in each direction, rising to three over heavily traffic sections. Transit time to the international airport would be reduced to around 30 minutes.

Source: World highways