Central Expressway First Phase Construction to Resume Within Two Months

COLOMBO (News 1st); Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways, Prasanna Gunasena says that construction of the first phase of the Central Expressway, which had been halted, will begin in the next two months.

The Deputy Minister said that approval from the China Exim Bank is awaited for the loan installment related to the project.

He added that, the construction is set to resume as a result of discussions held during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's official visit to China.

The first phase of the Central Expressway is the section from Kadawatha to Mirigama.

The length of this section is 37 kilometers.

Construction on more than 20% of the section has already been completed.

The Director of the project, Engineer Anuradha Hettiarachchi also confirmed that construction on the third phase of the expressway has been expedited.

He added that the expressway is expected to be opened to the public by 2026.

The section from Pothuhera to Galagedara is part of the third phase of the Central Expressway.

The length of this section is 32.5 kilometers.

The construction in this section is being carried out with the contribution of local engineers and domestic funds.

Engineer Anuradha Hettiarachchi said that as the first phase of this section, the part from Pothuhera to Rambukkana, covering 13.5 kilometers, will be opened to the public first.