| Country: | LKA |
| Type: | E |
| Route: | 03 |
| Alternate Name: | Airport Expressway |
| Maint: | the Road Development Authority |
| Length Km: | 25.8 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| History: | Opened on 27 October 2013 |
| Direction A: | North |
| Terminus A: | Bandaranaike International Airport and Negombo. |
| Direction B: | South |
| Terminus B: | New Kelani Bridge and Colombo. |
The Colombo–Katunayake Expressway is Sri Lanka's second E Class highway. The 25.8adj=midNaNadj=mid highway links the Sri Lankan capital Colombo with Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake[2] and Negombo. Construction on the highway began in October 2009, and it was opened on 27 October 2013, by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.[3] The highway has three lanes each way from Colombo to Peliyagoda, and two lanes each way from Peliyagoda to Katunayake, with the width ranging from 26mto33.5mm (85feetto109.9feetm).[4]
The total cost of the project was US $292 million. Exim Bank of China funded US$248.2 million of the total cost and the government of Sri Lanka spent US$45 million on the project.[5]
The speed limit is 80km/h for the first 8km (05miles) and 100km/h for the rest of the road.The Expressway has 42 bridges and 88 culverts including a 480 metre long viaduct at Hunupitiya and an 800-metre viaduct at Katunayake.[6] The opening of the highway has allowed people to travel between Colombo, the commercial capital of Sri Lanka,and Katunayake, the major international airport of Sri Lanka, within 15 minutes.
The E03 expressway links the capital Colombo with one of the major commercial hubs in the country and the major tourist destination, Negombo, within 20 minutes. TheSri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has also commenced a luxury bus service on the road, conducting services between Colombo and Negombo.
The contract was awarded to China Metallurgical Group Corporation (MCC) by the Government of Sri Lanka and the agreement was signed on 17 August 2008. The project loan agreements were signed on 6 August 2009 and the construction commenced on 18 August 2009.[6] The expressway was opened on 27 October 2013 by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.[3]