Kallady Bridge கல்லடிப் பாலம் කල්ලඩි පාලම | |
|---|---|
 Old Kallady Bridge (above) New Kallady Bridge (below)  | |
| Coordinates | 7°43′09.50″N81°42′26.40″E / 7.7193056°N 81.7073333°E /7.7193056; 81.7073333 |
| Carries | Motor vehicles on theA4 highway |
| Crosses | Batticaloa Lagoon |
| Locale | Batticaloa,Batticaloa District |
| Other name | Lady Manning Bridge |
| Owner | Ministry of Ports & Highways |
| Maintained by | Road Development Authority |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge (old) |
| Material | Iron, cement |
| Total length | 288.35 m (946 ft) |
| Width | 14 m (46 ft) |
| No. of spans | 5 (old) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1924 (old) |
| Construction cost | Rs.2.6 billion |
| Inaugurated | 22 March 2013 (2013-03-22) (new) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 10,000 per day (approx) |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Kallady Bridge | |
Kallady Bridge (Tamil:கல்லடிப் பாலம்; also known as theLady Manning Bridge) is a roadbridge in easternSri Lanka. It crosses theBatticaloa Lagoon atBatticaloa. The bridge is part of theA4 Colombo-Batticaloa highway.
The bridge was built in 1924 during British colonial rule.[1] The bridge was namedLady Manning Bridge in honour of the wife ofWilliam Manning, the BritishGovernor ofCeylon.[2] It was the oldest and longest iron bridge in Sri Lanka.[3] On average 10,000 vehicles crossed the narrow, single lane bridge daily.[3] Accidents on the bridge would lead to traffic problems in the area.
Batticaloa's singing fish legend is associated with the bridge. In 1954 two American priests fromSt. Michael's College National School, Rev. Fr. Lang and Rev. Fr. Moran, recorded fishes singing under the bridge.[2] The recording was broadcast onRadio Ceylon in the 1960s.[4][5]
In 2006 plans were drawn to build a new bridge parallel to the old one.[6][7] Construction of the new bridge began in March 2008.[8] Problems with the contractor led to another contractor being appointed.[9] The new bridge was formally opened on 22 March 2013.[10]
The new two lane bridge is 288.35 m (946 ft) long and 14 m (46 ft) wide.[11] The bridge costRs. 2.6 billion (US$20 million) and was financed by a loan from theJapan International Cooperation Agency under thePro-Poor Eastern Infrastructure Development Project.[12][13]
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