The state-of-the-art bridge under construction in Kelaniya was connected at the centre yesterday.

The new Kelani Bridge at Peliyagoda was ceremonially connected at the centre by Highways Minister Johnston Fernando and other officials.

The new Kelani Bridge project starts from the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway at the Peliyagoda Bridge Junction and ends at the Orugodawatta Junction and Port Access Junction.

The bridge has six lanes from the end of the Colombo – Katunayake Expressway to the Bandaranaike Roundabout and will be four lanes from there on to the Orugodawatta, Ingurukade Junction and the Port entrance.

The length of the bridge section across the Kelani River is 380 meters. The bridge is being constructed in two stages. The first package, the steel output bridge section, is at a cost of Rs. 31,593 million, while the second stage, the concrete suspension bridge section, is at a cost of Rs. 9,896 million.