Expressways For Sri Lanka?

Are expressways the right traffic solution for the island nation of Sri Lanka.

1 minute read

June 6, 2004, 11:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"The thinking of our advisers to the government is easy to understand. The rationale is simple, when there is congestion, build more roads to accommodate the vehicles. These new roads to be prestigious schemes and politically to be visible, expressways can be the answer. Since small-scale improvements are not politically visible the advisers think of the biggest way - the expressway.

These costly projects lead to more construction costs, more earth works, more studies, more foreign involvements etc. etc. that, finally may lead to more commissions and attractive packages to the politicians. Expressways can be justified if the country is economically sound and when the majority of people do have vehicles, which are fit to travel on expressways and can afford to pay the tolls.

Where the majority of people cannot afford to have expressways fit vehicles but only have bicycles, three-wheelers, poor conditioned cars, diesel vans and buses or no vehicles at all, will they ever justify expressways going across their villages for them to be staring at the speeding vehicles on the expressway with gaping mouths. "

Thanks to Abhijeet Chavan

Saturday, June 5, 2004 in Sri Lanka Sunday Observer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

April 28 - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

April 28 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

April 28 - The Sacramento Bee