DYWIDAG Post-Tensioning Systems Secure Sri Lanka’s Economic Development

The island state of Sri Lanka on the southern tip of India is not only a popular tourist destination, but also exports agricultural products such as coffee, tea or natural rubber. As the country’s road network was built 50 years ago, it is no longer able to cope with increasing traffic volumes.

In order to assure the future development of both the economy and tourism, a new expressway is being built in the south of Sri Lanka. The approximately 130km long route between the cities of Colombo and Matara on the south-west coast of the island is being constructed as a two-lane road. However, it can be expanded to four lanes if necessary.

The new expressway meets current standards of traffic security and will considerably shorten driving times between southern cities in Sri Lanka. Agriculture will also profit from this infrastructure development: currently, due to bad road conditions and time lags during transportation, up to 40% of crops spoil before reaching the market. Furthermore, the overall economic situation of the population in the south of the island is expected to improve.

The project is divided into two sections that are funded by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The expressway includes several bridge structures. The bridge superstructures consist of post-tensioned T-girders in lengths of up to 40m that were transported to the jobsite by heavy duty vehicles and then lifted into position by cranes.

World renowned for reliability and performance, DYWIDAG Post-Tensioning Systems were chosen for the construction of the post-tensioned girders. The systems used were DYWIDAG FA Flat Anchorages and MA Anchorages, ranging from types FA 6804 to MA 6819. UTRACON Overseas Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of DSI licensee UTRACON Structural Systems Pte Ltd in Singapore, supplied and installed the Strand Tendons and supplied the necessary equipment.

DSI and UTRACON are pleased that high quality DYWIDAG Systems were used for the construction of the new expressway.