Phase 2 of the OUTER CIRCULAR HIGHWAY to open on Aug 8.

New technology incorporated in the four-lane expressway with 3 toll buildings and 6 toll plazas

The second phase of the Colombo Outer Circular Highway (OCH) linking the Southern Expressway from Kaduwela to Kadawatha will be opened to the public on August 8, Project Director Mrs. T. S. H. Abewickrama said yesterday.

“The second phase has been completed and as a result the drive from Kaduwela to Kadawatha would be a seven minute one. The normal toll charges would apply,” she said.

The second phase of the project that was initially to be declared open on June 20 was postponed to mid July. The Rs. 45 billion project that was funded by the JICA was constructed by a Japanese firm.

The use of the expressway from Colombo to the Hanwella Low Level interchange and the Kelani- Mudungoda inter change would be free of charge. “These exchanges have been constructed across the Kelani River and motorists will not be charged when they use these interchanges,” she said.

Up to now, the construction of two of the three phases of the OCH has been completed. Phase 1 from Kottawa to Kaduwela, which was declared open by the previous government, Phase 2, from Kaduwela to Kadawatha, that is to be declared open while Phase 3 from Kadawatha to Kerawalapitiya remains in the pipeline.

She also said that due to accidents and difficulties people had to face in using other expressways, new technical and strategic methods had been incorporated in the second phase of the OCH that commenced in 2012. It is a is a four-lane expressway and will have 3 toll buildings and 6 toll plazas.

The second phase of the Rs. 45 billion project was funded by the JICA and constructed by a Japanese firm