Vehicular movement on Southern Expressway remains hampered

Vehicular movement on the Southern Expressway remains disrupted following the earth slip reported last night (Oct. 11), the Road Development Authority (RDA) says.

The earth slip was reported near the 102km Post between Pinnaduwa and Imaduwa interchanges as a result of the downpours that hammered the area yesterday. Accordingly, traffic on both sides of the expressway has been blocked since last night.

RDA Director-General L.V.S. Weerakoonsaid RDA authorities are working in tandem with Sri Lanka Army personnel at the moment to clear the blocked stretch of road.

Weerakoon is hopeful that 2 of the 4 lanes of the expressway can be reopened for vehicular movement by this afternoon (Oct. 12).

The motorists entering the Southern Expressway from the direction of Galle are advised to exit from the Imaduwa interchange while motorists arriving from the direction of Colombo are urged to exit from the Pinnaduwa interchange.

Six Police Special Task Force (STF) personnel and a Police Constable, who were on duty at the expressway, were reportedly hospitalized after sustaining injuries due to the said earth slip.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organization (NBRO) has vowed to inspect the site where the earth slip happened and to take both short- and long-term measures to prevent such mishaps in the future.