Categories: Headlines

Maintenance of islandwide metal flyovers RDA bemoans lack of skilled workers Rajagiriya flyover declared safe by expert panel

The Road Development Authority (RDA) yesterday (12), revealed that they currently lack skilled employees who possessed the knowledge to maintain the metal flyovers, which have been built in the country.

This was revealed by Director General (DG) of the RDA, Rohitha Swarna, during a press conference at the RDA premises.

“In concrete bridges, the maintenance is a lot less. But metal bridges are not like that. They start to rust. They get dirty. And there are also issues where water is retained. We don’t have a sufficient number of trained staff to tackle this situation.”

He added that whilst the RDA had a Rural Bridges Unit, with about 30 employees, they were not skilled enough to execute complex repairs.

The RDA DG also brushed off fears that the latest metal flyover at Rajagiriya is not safe and said that a collaborative study had been done by the Universities of Peradeniya and Moratuwa with the view of analyzing the safety of that flyover.

Whilst adding that there was a slight vertical displacement in a beam of that particular flyover, he said that this displacement was much less than the standards prescribed for maximum displacement of beams in flyovers.

“We decided to analyze this matter with a committee of experts, to see how vertical displacement affects this bridge. Following the study, for additional support it was decided to add a steel plate as recommended by the panel of experts,” he added.

He further said there was no weakness in the flyover and that the public need not fear the sound generated from the flyover when being used by vehicles during heavy traffic or the vibration felt by the commuters when travelling via the flyover either.

AddThis Website Tools
Lankanewspapers

Recent Posts

LNP – Sri Lanka’s FDI records 90% increase in first quarter 2025

The Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka has successfully increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)…

1 day ago

LNP – Sri Lanka deports 85 Chinese nationals over criminal activities

A total of 85 Chinese nationals convicted for various crimes, including cyber-related offences, were deported…

1 day ago

LNP – Think twice before buying EVs: Vehicle importers

The Vehicle Importers Association of Lanka (VIAL) has urged the public to carefully consider their…

1 day ago

LNP – MR, Maithri, Ranil, Basil, others involved in USD 110 million cattle import scam: MP

Former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala Sirisena, Ranil Wickremesinghe, former Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, P. Harrison, Wijith…

2 days ago

LNP – Keheliya’s two more daughters, son-in-law arrested

Two more daughters of former Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Chamithri Jayanika Rambukwella and Amali Nayanika Rambukwella—as…

2 days ago

LNP – World’s most liveable city for 2025 revealed

After a three-year run at the top of the annual list from the Economist Intelligence…

2 days ago