E01 expressway (Sri Lanka)

The Southern Expressway (Sinhala: දක්ෂිණ ලංකා අධිවේගි මාර්ගය, romanized: Dakśina Laṃkā adhivēgi mārgaya; Tamil: தென்னிலங்கை அதிவேக நெடுஞ்சாலை) is Sri Lanka's first expressway. The 222-kilometre-long (138 mi) highway links the Sri Lankan capital Colombo with Galle, Matara and Hambantota, major cities in the south of the island.

Southern Expressway shield
Southern Expressway
Colombo–Matara Expressway
Galle Expressway.JPG
Route information
Maintained by the Road Development Authority
Length222 km (138 mi)
Existed27 November 2011 (2011-11-27)–present
HistoryKottawa-Galle section opened on 27 November 2011.
Galle-Matara section opened on 15 March 2014.
Matara-Hambantota Section opened on 23 February 2020.
Major junctions
North endKottawa  A4  - Start of  E02  Colombo Outer Circular Expressway
Major intersectionsInterchange 2 → B84 in Kahathuduwa - Start of  E06  Ruwanpura Expressway

Interchange 3 →  A8  in Gelanigama
Interchange 4 → B304 in Dodangoda
Interchange 5 → B157 in Welipanna
Interchange 6 → B14 in Kurundugahahetekma
Interchange 7 → B153 in Baddegama
Interchange 8 → B594 in Pinnaduwa
Interchange 9 →  A17  in Imaduwa

Interchange 10 → B465 in Kokmaduwa
South endMattala  A24 
Location
CountrySri Lanka
ProvincesWestern Province, Sri Lanka, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
TownsPanadura, Kalutara, Matugama, Bentota,
Elpitiya, Ambalangoda, Galle,
Matara, Aparekka, Beliatta,
Agunukolapelessa, Mattala, Hambantota
Highway system
  • Roads in Sri Lanka

The Southern Expressway Project (SEP) was introduced by the Road Development Authority and the Ministry of Highways as far back as late 1980s. The University of Moratuwa undertook an Environment Impact Assessment study in 1996, which was submitted to the government in early 1997.[1][2][3]

Construction of the highway began in 2003 and completion up to Galle was achieved by November 2011. March 2014 saw the section from Galle to Matara being declared open to the public. The construction of the expressway was partly funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, who were responsible for the 65 km (40 mi) section between Kurundugahahetekma and Kokmaduwa, and the Asian Development Bank, responsible for the 161 km (100 mi) section between Kurundugahahetekma and Pinnaduwa. The expressway reduces the time taken to travel from Colombo to Galle (116 km (72 mi)) to one hour from three hours, and Colombo to Matara (29.3 km (18.2 mi)) to one and a half hours from four hours taken by the regular A2 highway.

The extension of the expressway to Hambantota was inaugurated on 4 July 2015. The extension will be four lanes (with allowance of further two lanes in future), the cost of US$180M being funded by the Exim Bank of China.[4]

On 10 August 2015, a Highway Traffic Management system was inaugurated and currently covers the length of the expressway, including the Outer-Circular Expressway.

On 23 February 2020, The final stage of the expressway which links to Hambanthota was opened to the public.[5][6]

Intersections

Mileage Interchange Name Destinations Notes
0.0 1 Kottawa  A4  – Kottawa (1.8 km), Maharagama (6.3 km), Nugegoda (11.3 km), Colombo (20.6 km), Ratnapura (79.1 km), Avissawella (37 km), Homagama (2.2 km) The start of the expressway; a continuation of the  E02  Colombo Outer Circular Expressway
5.9 2 Kahathuduwa B084 Kesbewa (5.8 km), Piliyandala (8.1 km), Colombo (25.7 km), Horana (12.3 km), Ingiriya (25.9 km), Ratnapura (63.5 km) This intersection will be the beginning point of  E06  Ruwanpura Expressway, which will connect Rathnapura to the national expressway network. It was scheduled to be opened in 2019.
13.7 3 Gelanigama  A8  Bandaragama (1.8 km), Panadura (11.6 km), Horana (6.9 km), Ingiriya (20.4 km), Ratnapura (58.1 km)
34.8 4 Dodangoda B304 Nagoda (11.5 km), Kalutara (17.0 km), Matugama (5.5 km), Kalawana (36.3 km)
46.0 5 Welipanna B157 Aluthgama (10.3 km), Matugama (11.5 km), Agalawatte (17.5 km)
67.6 6 Kurundugahahetekma B014 Elpitiya (3.8 km), Karandeniya (6.0 km), Batapola (7.0 km), Ambalangoda (13.2 km), Balapitiya (13.5 km)
79.8 7 Baddegama B153 Baddegama (1.5 km), Hikkaduwa (12.8 km), Nil Hena (2.4 km), Udugama (20.8 km)
95.3 8 Pinnaduwa B594 Galle (8.4 km)

Earnings and traffic volumes

Year since openingAnnual earnings (billion) RsAverage daily earnings (USD)Annual traffic volume (million)Average daily traffic volumeROI on capital (billion) RsEarning per KM (USD)
20120.97521,0003.3[7]9000-125.2580,500
2013------
2014------

Toll structure

Toll collection is currently done manually in cash by toll collectors. An electronic toll collection system has been proposed.[8]

See also

References

  1. "opinio06". Island.lk. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  2. "Plus". Sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  3. "REGAINING SRI LANKA" (PDF). Erd.gov.lk.
  4. "Construction of Matara - Hambantota Expressway launched". Colombo Gazette. 22 August 2015.
  5. "Final stage of Southern Expressway linking Hambantota- Mattala, Colombo vested with the public". Pmdnews.lk. 23 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. "Sri Lanka : President opens Southern Expressway extension linking Colombo to Hambantota-Mattala for public". Colombopage.com. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  7. "Southern Expressway Earns Rs.975 Million - The Daily Mirror (Colombo, Sri Lanka) | HighBeam Research". 29 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  8. "EOM&M Division". Exway.rda.gov.lk. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
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