HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT

ASSIGNMENT No 02

NAME REG No:

ABEYKOON A.J.M.S.S. RU/E/2008/004

ABEYKOON B.M.C.S. RU/E/2008/005

ABEYNAYAKE A.M.C.A. RU/E/2008/006

BANDARA K.A.J.M. RU/E/2008/014

 INTRODUCTION

Transportation facilities are very important factor for any developing country.
Recently Sri Lankan government began to develop road network all around the country. As a
result of that government decided to construct three highways. One is Southern Lanka Express
Highway.

The Southern Lanka Express Highway is Sri Lanka’s first E Class highway. That
is also known as the Southern Lanka Distributor or simply the Southern Expressway. This will
link the Sri Lankan capital Colombo with Matara and it is 126 km length. Commencement date
of the Construction process was 2006 and completion up to Matara is expected in 2013. However
the public opening was declared on 27 November 2011 from Kottawa to Pinnaduwa. The
expressway will reduce the time taken to travel from Colombo to Matara (161 km) to one and a
half hours from the current four hours, and currently reduces the time taken to travel from
Colombo to Galle (116 km) to one hour from the three hours taken by the regular Colombo-
Matara highway.

These interchanges are located at Kottawa, Kahathuduwa,Galanigama,

Dodangoda, Levanduwa, Kurundugahahetekma, Baddegama, Pinnaduwa, Deegoda, Kokmaduwa
and Godagama. Actually express way was very new experience for the Sri Lankans. But day by
day people move to use it to save their valuable
time.

Fig.01: Southern Lanka Express Highway

IMPROVEMENTS

AS mentioned earlier highway is a very stranger experience for our country. So

designers did not pay their attention for back ground image of the highway. Economy of the
country is depending upon well maintained and aesthetically pleasing highway system. Likewise
quality highways reflect community pride and economic vitality, there by attracting business and
industries. So that visual quality of the road is very important. All of us use roads for travel place
to place. So peace environment is very essential. Due to that we should think about the
environment around the road from the construction process.

More trees and water surfaces show us prosperity. Proper landscapes, creative man-made
structures such as ponds, towers, buildings, give us nice view. Vantage points make feel to go
beyond that. We should hide negative elements by planting trees or using any other method.
Likewise we can build up nice environment. That may cause to keep cool mind during travel the
highway. As well as
we should maintain
the highway in a
proper manner
during life time.

Fig.03: 23+050 Present Situation

Fig.04: After Improvements

 Fig.05: 12+900Present situation

Fig.06: After improvement

Fig.07: 27+500 Present situation

 Fig.08: After improvements

When we consider above figure sets those figures show us difference between present
situation and after improvements. After improvements visual quality is totally changed. More
trees show us prosperity and make peace feelings. Because of that passengers feel relax. So we
should provide better background around the highway.

Fig.09: 27+900 Present Situation

 Fig.10: After Improvement

According to above figures 09 and 10 we can increase visual quality by replacing the
negative elements. Before replace the house it gives bad visual quality, but after replace it visual
quality increased. So negative elements should replace, remove or hide by tree plantation.

Fig.11: 22+000 Present Situation

 Fig.12: After improvements

Figure 11 and 12 shows before turf and after turf both sides of the road. According to that
after turf visual quality is high. As well as like bellow figure we can build structure and plant
trees.

Fig.13: Structures and plantation

Likewise using above methods we can increase the visual quality of the highway.
 Fig.14: improve the interchange

When travelling along the southern highway there are less number of water bodies could see.
Most of the rivers and streams obstruct by bridge side walls. But water bodies imply prosperity.
Therefore we suggest that man-made water features such as water falls, ponds can locate at the
interchanges. Because of it can be easily maintenance.