Highways Minister lays foundation stones for three new bridges

Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister Johnston Fernando yesterday laid foundation stones for three new bridges one across Bentara river at Ittepana and Horawala and others across the Madu Ganga at Balapitiya in keeping with a pledge made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

The Ministry of Highways has in a media statement said the bridge to be constructed across the Madu River will be 330.5 metres in length and 4.8 metres in width. The second bridge to be constructed across the same river will be 49.55 metres in length and 4.8 metres in width. The cost of the two new bridges is estimated at Rs 975.9 million.

The third bridge to be constructed linking Horawala and Ittepana will be 133.2 metres in length and 10.4 metres in width. The cost of the construction is estimated at Rs 590.7 million.

The construction of the bridges will be done by the State Development and Construction Corporation under the supervision of the Ministry of Highways and the Road Development Authority, the ministry said.

Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, State Minister of Coast Conservation and Low-Lying Lands

Development Mohan P de Silva, Galle District MP Geetha Kumarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Highways R.W.R. Pemasiri and Director General of RDA Sardha Weerakoon were among those present.