Outer Circular Expressway | |
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Arthur C. Clarke Expressway | |
Route information | |
Maintained by the Road Development Authority | |
Length: | 29 km (18 mi) |
Major junctions | |
Beltway around Colombo | |
North end: | Kerawalapitiya - connect with E03 Colombo - Katunayake Expressway (not open yet) |
Interchange 2 → Mattumagala Interchange 3 →Kadawatha Interchange 4 → Kaduwela Interchange 5 → Athurugiriya |
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South end: | Kottawa, Colombo - Start of E01 Colombo - Matara Expressway |
Highway system | |
Expressways of Sri Lanka |
The Colombo Outer Circular Expressway (also known as the Outer Circular Highway(OCH), Colombo Inter-provincial Orbital Router or the Arthur C. Clarke Expressway) is a highway in Colombo, Sri Lanka. It was opened in sections, with the latest one between Kaduwela and Kadawatha having been opened on 17 September 2015. The 29 km (18 mi) long outer circular road network links the Colombo - Matara Expressway with Colombo - Katunayake Expressway and the proposed Colombo - Kandy Expressway and will provide an orbital beltway to bypass the city of Colombo and reduce traffic congestion. The project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
The pre-feasibility was study carried out in 1992, five alternative traces have been studied.In 1999 a Feasibility Study was carried out under grant aid assistance from government of Japan. After the Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted the project approval was obtained from Central Environmental Authority for the section from Kerawelapitiya to Kottawa for a length of 28 km.Detailed Design Study for this 28 km stretch was commenced in July 2001 under a grant aid assistance from Government of Japan. Basic Design of the project has been carried out.
The project was delayed in November 2001 due to protests by residents in the area and the government decided to resettle them in different lands in the same area away from the planned highway.
Construction of the road commenced in October, 2009 and it is projected that the project will take at least eight years to complete. Access will be provided to all "A" class roads via interchanges. The highway will have an operational speed limit of 100 km/h and is to be built with four lanes and provisions to upgrade the road for six lanes of traffic.