Highway 1 (Afghanistan)

Kabul–Kandahar Highway Highway around Wardak Province in 2010
Somewhere on the Kabul–Jalalabad Road

Highway 1 or A01, formally called the Ring Road, is a 2,200 kilometre two-lane road network circulating inside Afghanistan, connecting the following major cities (clockwise): Mazar, Kabul, Ghazni, Kandahar, Farah, and Herat in the west or northwest. It has extensions that also connect Jalalabad, Lashkar Gah, Delaram (Route 66), Islam Qala, and several other cities. It is part of AH1, the longest route of the Asian Highway Network.

Part of Highway 1 has been refurbished since late 2003, particularly the Kabul–Kandahar Highway, with funds provided by the United States, Saudi Arabia and others. Most work on that stretch was done by Turkish, Indian and local companies. Japanese companies were also involved near the southern Afghan province of Kandahar. In the west, Iran participated in the two-lane road construction between Islam Qala and the western Afghan city of Herat. Pakistan rebuilt the Jalalabad–Kabul Road.

Kabul - Kandahar

The Kabul–Kandahar Highway is a 483-kilometer (300 mi) road linking Afghanistan's two largest cities, Kabul and Kandahar. This highway is a key portion of the Ring Road. Approximately 35 percent of Afghanistan's population lives within 50 kilometers of the Kabul to Kandahar portion of the Ring Road.

The Kabul-Kandahar highway underwent major repairs carried out by the United States and Japanese governments with assistance in planning and design by Turkish and Indian engineers. Phase one of paving was completed in December 2003 and the highway was opened to traffic.[1] However, the road has badly deteriorated since that time, from heavy trucks and also from terrorist sabotage. Furthermore, armed guards must protect highway repair crews from ambushes. Banditry and extortion at Taliban checkpoints continue to be problems.[2]

Kandahar - Herat

Kabul - Jalalabad

The A01 national highway, Jalalabad - Kabul, follows the Kabul River Gorge for 64 kilometres (40 mi). The two-lane Kabul Gorge highway runs along 600 metres (2,000 ft) cliffs. Fatal traffic accidents occur in this area, mainly due to reckless driving.[3]

See also

Notes

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  1. ↑ USAID Press Release: Afghans Celebrate Phase I Completion of Kabul to Kandahar Highway
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Dexter Filkins, "Sarobi Journal: On Afghan Road, Scenes of Beauty and Death", The New York Times (February 7, 2010)
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