Elevated roads for Sri Lanka

Abstract

The development of roads and highways related infrastructure has picked up significantly in the recent times along with a significant increase in the vehicle ownership and also the number of larger and heavier vehicles on the road network. With the proposed expressway system being gradually completed, a new requirement has risen. It is the need to come to the capital of the country, Colombo, with a reasonably short time once a vehicle leaves the expressway. Since the roadside developments are high and the land acquisition for new roads would be difficult, one option is the use of elevated expressways constructed above the existing highways. This paper presents some structural aspects that can be effectively used to create a well planned and robust elevated highways banking on the experience on design and construction of existing elevated structures that have been built in recent times in Sri Lanka.