Expressway Operation Maintenance And Management Division
Road Development Authority - Sri Lanka

Safe use of the Expressway

• Keeping accidents at the lowest possible rate is very important for the smooth and efficient functioning of the Expressway.
• Since the vehicles are driven at 100 kilometers per hour, slight impact between vehicles or with a road barrier, sudden application of brakes or a turn may lead to secondary collisions and severity of damages in an expressway accident will be higher than in a normal road.
• Maximum speed is 100 kilometers per hour.
• Keep distance with the vehicle in front.
• Since these accidents could bring traffic on the expressway to a standstill, it is very important to minimize accidents on the expressway by safe and discipline driving.
• Safe driving requires clear judgment, concentration and ability to react to what is happening on the road. Alcohol and other drugs affect a driver’s skills, mood and most importantly behavior, putting the driver at great risk of crashing. So the driver must not use alcohol or other drugs before or while driving.
• Tiredness significantly weaken driving even if the driver does not feel sleepy. Pull over when feeling tired. It could save your life or someone else’s.
• All passengers should wear seat belts. This is a simple action could make the difference between life and death.
• Make sure that you drive on the outer lane while the inner lane should be used only for overtaking.
• Changing the lanes on the expressway should be done very carefully. The lane belongs to those who are already on that lane. Enter without causing without any obstruction to the traffic already on that lane.
• If a collision occurs when changing lanes, the driver who attempted to change lines will be responsible and be changed.
• Before you change the lanes check all the mirrors, switch on signals and then proceed to overtake. After you pass the vehicle, check the mirrors to see that you cleared the vehicles, once again apply your signals and get back into the outer lane.
• The maximum speed in the entry/exit ramps of the Expressway is 60 kilometers per hour.
• Parking in the Emergency Parking Lane is permitted only in an emergency.
• Don't throw litter or any other material out of the vehicles while traveling on the expressway. It could cause damages to the other vehicles or the road.
• Shall avoid opening windows of the vehicles and putting head, hands out of windows of the vehicles.
• All passengers, including passengers in the rear seats should wear seat belts.
• Make sure that you have enough money required to pay "user fee". Having change will avoid delays at toll gates.
• Never use mobile phones, while you are driving. If it is essential, get the assistance of another passenger in your vehicle.
• If you notice any one or group of persons damaging the properties of the Expressway or violating Expressway rules and regulations, immediately inform to the emergency number-1969 with the location.
• In case of an accident never try to get assistance of the vehicles travelling on the Expressway, since sudden braking of a vehicle could lead to secondary accident. Always try to get the assistance of emergency services available in Expressway by dialing 1969.
• If you see an accident, immediately inform it to emergency number - 1969, with the location. Never stop unless traffic lane in front of you is obstructed, since it can lead to secondary accidents.

Vehicles not allowed in the Expressway and the Conditions of allowed vehicles.

• Pedestrians, Three Wheelers, Motor Cycles , Tractors and Bicycles are not permitted to enter the Expressway
• The vehicles allowed in the Expressway should:
  
  Be able to drive safely at 100kilometers per hour.
  Not be overloaded and belch.
  Be within the limitation of the length, width, height and load set out in the Motor Traffic Act.
  Have properly functioning lights, dash board indicators, brakes, steering system and seat belts for all passengers.
  Never have worn out tyres & engines.
  Have specified air pressure in tyres.

Procedure of Paying "User Fee"

User Fee System of Colombo-Katunayake expressway is different from the Southern Expressway and the Outer Circular Highway. Because of that the procedure of paying user fee is much different.

# Southern Expressway and Outer Circular Highway:

• When you enter the Expressway, a ticket will be issued at the toll gate of the interchange. The Ticket displays the Vehicle type and the Interchange you entered.
• You have to hand over the ticket, that you received at the entering toll gate, when you are entering to the Exit toll gate, and then you will be informed the "user fee".
• A receipt will be issued after the payment of "user fee".
• User fee will be used for maintenance of Expressway, emergency services and paramedical services.
• At the initial stage, payment can be made only through cash.
• Electronic user fee payment systems (ETC and Touch & Go) have been planned to introduce in future.

# Colombo-Katunayake Expressway:

• When you enter the Expressway from Peliyagoda and Katunayake entrance, there is no any ticket issuing mechanism and you can freely enter without stoping for tickets. Eventhough, When you enter the Expressway, a Electronic card will be issued at the toll gate in Ja-Ela interchange only.
• When you reach to the exit toll gates, the vehicle category and user fee amount will be displayed. After making the payment user fee ticket will be issued and the toll gate barrier will be opened untill pass the vehicle through the loop. after passing the vehicle, the toll gate barrier will be automatically closed.
• If you entered from Ja-Ela IC and When you reach to the exit toll gates at Seeduwa or Peliyagoda you should submit the given electronic card to the counter. After that your vehicle category and use fee amount will be displayed. After making the user fee payment ticket will be issued and the toll gate barrier will be opened and you can pass through the lane.
• User fee will be used for maintenance of Expressway, emergency services and paramedical services.
• At present, payment can be made only through cash.
• Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) payment systems have been planned to introduce in very recently.
• Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) payment facility is available in all Toll Gates in Colombo-Katunayake Expressway.
• ETC card will be issued at Customer Care Center located at Peliyagoda near to the Thorana Junction in Colombo-Kandy Road (A1).
• Payment for the ETC shall be done by reacharging your ETC account opened in Bank of Ceylon by any means such as cash, direct debit or e-banking .

Before starting the journey

• Plan and decide the entry and exit points.
• Check whether the vehicle has enough fuel for the whole journey in the Expressway.
• Make sure that you have enough money required to pay “user fee”.
• Always read instructions/ information displayed in direction signs before proceeding to entry ramp.

Entering the Expressway

• If you entered through a wrong ramp and had pass the toll gate, you should not attempt to reverse your vehicle or turning back and driving against the traffic direction. All you have to do is to drive up to the nearest interchange and get in to the right track that takes you to your destination.
• When you enter to the Expressway from correct entry ramp, adjust your speed to match with the speed of the vehicles already on the Expressway and enter the outer lane of the Expressway.
• You should not cause any inconvenience to other vehicles on the Expressway.
• Retain the ticket that you have received at the entry counter, since it is required at the exit point of the expressway.
• When you are trying to enter the Expressway, if you notice that there is no safe gap between the vehicles already on the expressway, keep in mind that you might need to stop the vehicle in the acceleration lane until you find a safe gap between vehicles.
• If you met with an accident while entering the expressway, the driver entering is responsible for the accident.

Exiting from the Expressway

• Vehicles exiting the interchange should be in the outer lane when passing the 500 m ahead sign of the exit point, switch on ”turning to left” signal light. Speed reducing lane, begins in a short while. Drive towards the exit point reducing the speed.
• You should never make a sudden change of lanes from inner lane to exit ramp, by cutting across the outer lane, when you see the exit sign. Such movement could lead to serious accidents involving several vehicles.
• If you miss the exit ramp, you should not reverse or turn back and drive against traffic. You should drive up to the nearest interchange and come back.

In any case of an emergency

• In case of a breakdown on the expressway, immediately switch on Hazard lights, move and park the vehicle in the Emergency Parking Lane.
• In case of a breakdown at night, place a triangular reflective warning sign about 200 meters behind the vehicle to avoid secondary accidents.
• Vehicle should park in the Emergency Parking Lane, as much as to the left side as possible.
• Under no circumstance, drivers or passengers should enter/walk across the traffic lanes of the expressway.
• Since the Emergency Parking Lane is narrow, getting down from the vehicle should be avoided. Try to remember the information on the marker post you have just passed, to know the parked location.
• If you have no alternative, check for approaching vehicles from your rear, open the door, get out of the vehicle & walk towards the nearest marker post, fixed at 100m intervals.
• After locating where you are from the marker post, inform your problem and the location to the Emergency Telephone Number 1969.
• If you notice any vehicle that had broken down or met with an accident call 1969 & inform immediately.
• Police, Fire, Ambulance, Emergency Rescue, Towing and other services in operation for 24hours will reach you depending on your requirement.

Further Instructions for the users of the Expressway

• Don't throw litter or any other material out of the vehicles while traveling on the expressway. It could cause damages to the other vehicles or the road.
• Shall avoid opening windows of the vehicles and putting head, hands out of windows of the vehicles.
• All passengers, including passengers in the rear seats should wear seat belts.
• Make sure that you have enough money required to pay "user fee". Having change will avoid delays at toll gates.
• Never use mobile phones, while you are driving. If it is essential, get the assistance of another passenger in your vehicle.
• If you notice any one or group of persons damaging the properties of the Expressway or violating Expressway rules and regulations, immediately inform to the emergency number-1969 with the location.
• In case of an accident never try to get assistance of the vehicles travelling on the Expressway, since sudden braking of a vehicle could lead to secondary accident. Always try to get the assistance of emergency services available in Expressway by dialing 1969.
• If you see an accident, immediately inform it to emergency number - 1969, with the location. Never stop unless traffic lane in front of you is obstructed, since it can lead to secondary accidents.