New Motivation Development for Colombo, Sri Lanka

Challenge

The old Kelani Bridge connects the Capital Colombo, Bandaranaike International airport, and Colombo Port, which was under daily chronic traffic congestion. This heavy traffic volume adversely affected the lifespan of the existing Kelani Bridge as well as hampered the economic development of the capital Colombo, the main gateway of Sri Lanka.

Under the financial assistance from the Government of Japan, the Ministry of Highways and Investment Promotion of Sri Lanka decided to construct a new bridge adjoining the existing Kelani Bridge, interchanges and elevated road to extensively resolve to existing issues.

The project consisted of 2 packages:
Package 1: Steel Bridge Section included the construction of Steel Box Girders with Composite Slab at Main Line, Port Access Road, Interchanges and Junction, and Improvement of at-grade Roads.
Package 2: Extradosed Bridge Section included the construction of extradosed main bridge, PC Box Girder at Approach Bridges

Furthermore, the design and construction of both extradosed bridge and steel box girder with Composite Slab were all firstly introduced in Sri Lanka.

Services

OC Global participated in the formulation and provided the valuable engineering solutions for the project, from the feasibility study under a JICA Study in 2013 to detailed design, tender assistance and construction supervision, all as the leading firm of the consulting joint venture.

During the later phase, the following activities were carried out:
・Detailed Design
・Tender Assistance
・Construction Supervision
・Technology Transfer
・Guidance on Operation and Maintenance Measures
・Consideration of safeguards
・HIV / AIDS Prevention Activities
・Consideration of Safety
・Dispute Board Assistance
・Defects Liability Period
・Reporting

Results

The project successfully accomplished the following components on schedule.
Main Bridge: Extradosed Bridge (6 lanes, L= 380m)
Approach Bridge: PC Box Girder (6 lanes, L= 460m) & PC Box Girder (5 lanes, L=165m)
Main Line: Steel Box Girder Bridge with Composite Slab (4 lanes, L =425m)
Port Access Road: Steel Box Gider Bridge with Composite Slab (4 lanes, L=497m)
Orugodawatta Interchange: Steel Box Girder Bridge with Composite Slab (L = 259m)
Ingurukade Interchange: Steel Box Girder Bridge with Composite Slab (L = 330m)
Kelanittisa Junction: Steel Box Girder Bridge with Composite Slab (L = 1,024m)

Award

This project was awarded the 2021 Tanaka Award by the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE). The award was established to honor the late Dr. Yutaka Tanaka for his pioneering contribution to bridge and structural engineering in 1966. Link (Japanese Only)
JPCI Award 2021 (Japanese Only)
ENAA Award 2023 (Japanese Only)

Link

DailyFT – New Kelani bridge to be opened tomorrow