Anuradhapura, an ancient capital of Sri Lanka, is a central location in many aspects. Not only does the city have historical and cultural significance, but also religious and economic significance. Its geographic location has made it the nucleus linking northern Regions with other areas in the constructing culverts to drain out surface water and strengthening the structure of bridges. Five new bridges will be constructed including bridges over Deduru Oya, KalaOya and MeeOya. The second stage will be the construction of a new expressway from Katunayake to Padeniya. The first 9 km of the new road from Katunayake to Madampella will include four lanes and the remaining 57 km to Padeniya will have two. Ten new bridges will be constructed with bridges over Ma Oya and Kolamuna. The feasibility studies of this project were finalized in 1996 with Korean aid. The detailed technical study is scheduled to commence in 2002 and constructions will begin in 2004.
Katunayake - Padeniya - Anuradhapura Highway - 149 km
Anuradhapura the capital of North Central Province, which has also been an ancient capital city of the nation, has been a political and commercial centre of the Northern part of the island due to being located geographically in the centre. However, there is no direct route to Anuradhapura from either Colombo or Bandaranaike International Air Port.
Presently, there are 3 ways of reaching Anuradhapura from Colombo or Katunayake varyiing from 168 Km to 204 Km in distance. The shortest and the most common route is a combination of several B class roads up to Padeniya and along A class road to Anuradhapura from there onwards.
The studies conducted in the recent past have revealed that most of these B class roads have already reached conditions of maximum capacity and are fast approaching the condition of impossible situation. Hence, the necessity of having a direct route to Anuradhapura from Colombo or Katunayake has been established beyond any doubt. Further, once constructed along with Colombo - Katunayake Expressway, this road link would play a major role in transporting passengers and goods from the western and southern provinces to the northern part of the country, and also be a major boom to the development of Tourist Industry.
This project consists of two different parts. Whilst one part is for the rehabilitation and widening of the existing trunk road A28 from Padeniya - Anuradhapura of length 84 Km. the other part is for the construction of a new road section from Katunayake to Padeniya of length about 66 Km.
In the case of new section of road from Katunayake to Padeniya, the section from Katunayake to Madampella of length approximately 9 Km is to be constructed to 4 lane facility while the section from Madampella to Padeniya of length 57 Km. is to be constructed to 2 lane facility. The begining point on Katunayake - Veyangoda B Class road is a 3 way at grade intersection located in the village Andiambalama. The ending point of the new section of road is to be connected to a newly formed intersection between the existing Katugastota - Kurunegala - Puttalam A 10 trunk road and Katunayake - Padeniya A28 road, modified in the first 100 to 200 m to be in line with the newly build road section. This junction is a 4 way at grade intersection.
This new road section will intersect 6 more B class roads where 5 of them will be at grade 4 way junctions while the intersection with Negombo - Giriulla B class road in the 9th Km. will have a grade separated intersection. The new section of road will change from 4 lane facility 2 lane facility at this location, There are 10 river crossings in this section of which the bridge over Maha Oya at the 12th Km. and Kolamunna Oya at the 56th Km. could be considered as major structures.
In the section from Padeniya to Anuradhapura what has been proposed is to rehabilitate and widen the existing A class road to upgrade same to the design standards adopted for the new road section. This rehabilitation work will include improvement of alignment, strengthening of the road pavement and provision of surface drainage facility and bridge structures in accordance with the design standards specified.
It has been proposed to rehabilitate the existing road from Padeniya to Anuradhapura to provide a proper 2 lane road facility with wide shoulders for the safety of the pedestrians, with provision of 4 lane divided facility raised foot walks and side drains at built up areas. There are only two intersections with the existing B class road where 4way at grade intersections are provided.
There are 5 major bridges on this section of the road where structures across Kala Oya, Mee Oya and Deduru Oya are considered as comparatively large.
A feasibility study for the above road project has been completed in 1996 by a Team of Korean Consultants under Grant Aid Assistance from the Government of Republic of Korea.
This feasibility study was conducted in two phases. The Phase 1 was for the rehabilitation and widening of the existing road from Padeniya to Anuradhapura of length 84 Km. while the phase 2 was for the construction of a new section of road from Katunayake to Padeniiya of length about 66 Km.
The Feasibility study for this road project was undertaken in 1995 to 1996 with a view to implement the project construction immediately after the completion or along with the last phase of Colombo - Katunayake Expressway project as a continuation of same to Anuradhapura in the North Central Province. Since the implementation of Colombo - Katunayake expressway project has been deferred, the detailed engineering designs which is the immediate next phase of this project too has not been undertaken. However, this project has been included in the Six year Development Programme to be undertaken, starting form the year 2007. The detailed Engineering Designs are scheduled to commence in the year 2004.
