NBRO will monitor Expressway for earthslips – DG

National Building Research Organization (NBRO) Director General Asiri Karunawardena said there is very little chance that the hilly area at the 102-kilometer post between Pinnaduwa and Imaduwa on the Southern Expressway which experienced a massive earthslip, will not be subject to another such landslide again.

He said that since there is some risk, arrangements will be made to remove the earth on one lane and inquire into whether the earthslip will become active once again or not.

The Director General said that this mountain had experienced an earthslip twice and during the first instance the right lane had been covered entirely and during the second occasion all four lanes had been covered in earth.

NBRO Director General Karunawardena and Road Development Authority (RDA) Director General L.V.S.Weerakone visited the scene of the earthslip on Wednesday (11) night itself and engaged in observations. Removing of earth from one lane had commenced that night itself and speaking further the Director General of the NBRO had the following to say as well; “With the heavy rains experienced, at about 8.30 pm yesterday, a length of 75-100 meters had been covered in earth. This area showed signs of earthslips even previously. The risk of another earthslip occurring is very little. Therefore, we decided to remove earth from one lane of the expressway. Since there is somewhat of a risk we will see after clearing one lane, whether another earthslip will become active or not. We will once again inspect the area this morning and submit a complete report.

“Based on the current conditions, we can commence work to remove the soil. Removal should be done under a strong alert. Even now, there is a pathway through which water is draining and it is of a liquid nature. We hope to re-open the expressway as soon as possible. With this earthslip, we will now arrange to begin a project to stabilise this area of risk and ensure the safety of those who use the expressway. The earthslip had taken place on two occasions. During the first instance the lane on the right had been covered in soil and in the second instance all four lanes had got covered. Previously, on the slope of an area beyond this mountain range, cracks had been reported. With that, the RDA had taken required short-term measures as solutions. We hope to carry out an inspection on site and provide long-term solutions, he said further.

Director General Weerakone said:“The earthslip has taken place in about 150m distance. We will remove the trees and soil which are on the expressway as soon as possible and open the road for movement of traffic. Those travelling to Colombo, can leave the expressway at Pinnaduwa and re-enter at the Imaduwa Interchange. One can travel on the Galle-Deniyaya Road and enter the expressway at Imaduwa,” Weerakone said.

A Fire Truck of the Police Special Task Force and an ambulance attached to the Southern Expressway which had arrived to look into the earthslip had met with an accident and five officers who were travelling in these had sustained injuries and been admitted to the Galle, Karapitiya Teaching Hospital. In addition a vehicle which had been travelling on the expressway when the earthslip occurred had been damaged but none of the persons who were inside had been injured.

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