Port Access Elevated Highway to be opened in October 2024

The much awaited and the long overdue South Asia Sub regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Port Access Elevated Highway (PAEH) Project directly linking the Colombo harbour and the Colombo Port City to the Colombo Airport will be finally opened in October 2024.

One of the unique features is the connection it offers from the airport to both the harbour and the Port City area extending the expressway network into the city. “Over 85% of the project work has now been completed,” an official from SASEC said.

     

This will also give an opportunity for foreigners shopping at the duty free shop to be opened in April to purchase the goods and use the highway to go direct to the airport and check-in by passing ticketing counters as airport aviation is planning to open a ticket counter at the port city.

The (SASEC) Port Access Elevated Highway (PAEH) Project will construct about 5.3 kilometres (km) of an elevated toll highway with related facilities between New Kelani Bridge (NKB) and Galle Face in central Colombo 1.

The project will help alleviate traffic congestion in the densely populated areas of Colombo, improve last-mile connectivity from the country’s expressway network to the international port in Colombo. It will also provide better logistics services for freight operations, and facilitate regional trade.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs, 28 billion. The project commenced in 2019 and was originally planned to be completed in 2023. The project suffered various setbacks commencing with the 2020 Covid 19 Pandemic lock down and the economic crisis. “Today the biggest obstacle was battling with the serious security related issues of theft by drug addicts, impact of criminal gangs operating in the area since September 2022.” “Sri Lanka Police Department took up the matter and investigated and took action with regard to 11 (eleven) cases on priority among many. Thanks to the very prompt intervention of Police intervention these obstacles and hazards were overcome.

“The timely and effective support role played by the Sri Lanka police also has made a substantial impact on foreign investor confidence being boosted as security of foreign investors and stakeholders as well infrastructure contractors has been assured.

The project is aligned with the following impact: economic growth and regional trade and cooperation of the country facilitated.

The project will see a tolling operation capacity of expressways strengthened. An attached technical assistance (TA) will strengthen operation capacity of the expressway regarding toll rate policy and electronic toll collection (ETC) system.

“A consultant firm and individual consultants will be recruited to prepare deliverables under the TA.”