Asian Highway Network

The Asian Highway (AH) project is a cooperative project among countries in Asia and Europe and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to improve the highway systems in Asia. It is one of the three pillars of Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development (ALTID) project, endorsed by the ESCAP commission at its forty-eighth session in 1992, comprising Asian Highway, Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) and facilitation of land transport projects. The AH project was initiated by the United Nations in 1959 with the aim of promoting the development of international road transport in the region. During the first phase of the project (1960-1970) considerable progress was achieved, however, progress slowed down when financial assistance was suspended in 1975.

ESCAP has conducted several projects in cooperation with AH member countries step by step after the endorsement of ALTID in 1992.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network (IGA) was adopted on November 18, 2003, by the Intergovernmental Meeting; the IGA includes Annex I, which identifies 55 AH routes among 32 member countries totalling approximately 87,500 miles (140,000 km), and Annex II "Classification and Design Standards". During the 60th session of the ESCAP Commission at Shanghai, China, in April 2004, the IGA treaty was signed by 23 countries. As of 2007, 28 countries were signatories.

Route AH1 is proposed to extend from Tokyo to the border with Bulgaria west of Istanbul and Edirne, passing through both Koreas, China and other countries in Southeast, Central and South Asia. The corridor is expected to improve trade links between East Asian countries, India and Russia. To complete the route, existing roads will be upgraded and new roads constructed to link the network. US$ 25 billion has been spent or committed as of 2007, with additional US$ 18 billion needed for upgrades and improvements to 26,000 km of highway. [ [http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/common/tis/ah/priority_investment.asp#profiles "Priority Investment Needs for the Development for the Asian Highway Network"] , accessed July 14, 2007]

Route log

Single-digit routes run across the whole continent:
*AH1, 12,848 miles (20,557 km); Tokyo, Japan to border between Turkey and Bulgaria (with AH5)
*AH2, 8326 miles (13,177 km); Denpasar, Indonesia to Khosravi, Iran
*AH3, 4582 miles (7,331 km); Ulan-Ude, Russia (on AH6) to Tanggu, China; and Shanghai, China (on AH5) to Chiang Rai, Thailand and Kyaing Tong, Myanmar (both on AH2)
*AH4, 3765 miles (6,024 km); Novosibirsk, Russia (on AH6) to Yarantai, Mongolia; and Urumqi, China (on AH5) to Karachi, Pakistan (on AH7)
*AH5, 6488 miles (10,380 km); Shanghai, China (on AH3) to border between Turkey and Bulgaria (with AH1)
*AH6, 6547 miles (10,475 km); Busan, South Korea (on AH1) to border between Russia and Belarus
*AH7, 3667.5 miles (5,868 km); Yekaterinburg, Russia to Karachi, Pakistan (on AH4)
*AH8, 2949 miles (4,718 km); border between Russia and Finland to Bandar Emam, Iran

10-29 and 100-299 are assigned to South-East Asia:
*AH11, 992.5 miles (1,588 km); Vientiane, Laos (on AH12) to Sihanoukville, Cambodia
*AH12, 747 miles (1,195 km); Nateuy, Laos (on AH3) to Hin Kong, Thailand (on AH1)
*AH13, 456 miles (730 km); Oudomxai, Laos (on AH12) to Nakhon Sawan, Thailand (on AH1/AH2)
*AH14, 1298 miles (2,077 km); Hai Phong, Vietnam to Mandalay, Myanmar (on AH1/AH2)
*AH15, 354 miles (566 km); Vinh, Vietnam (on AH1) to Udon Thani, Thailand (on AH12)
*AH16, 645 miles (1,032 km); Dong Ha, Vietnam (on AH1) to Tak, Thailand (on AH1/AH2)
*AH18, 651 miles (1,042 km); Hat Yai, Thailand (on AH2) to Johor Bahru Causeway, Malaysia
*AH19, 287 miles (459 km); Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (on AH12) to Bangkok, Thailand (on AH2)
*AH25, 1593 miles (2,549 km); Banda Aceh, Indonesia to Merak, Indonesia (on AH2)
*AH26, 2198 miles (3,517 km); Laoag, Philippines to Zamboanga, Philippines

30-39 and 300-399 are assigned to East Asia and North-East Asia:
*AH30, 1712 miles (2,739 km); Ussuriysk, Russia (on AH6) to Chita, Russia (on AH6)
*AH31, 997 miles (1,595 km); Belogorsk, Russia (on AH30) to Dalian, China
*AH32, 2342.5 miles (3,748 km); Sonbong, North Korea (on AH6) to Khovd, Mongolia (on AH4)
*AH33, 359 miles (575 km); Harbin, China (on AH6/AH31) to Tongjiang, China
*AH34, 646 miles (1,033 km); Lianyungang, China to Xi'an, China (on AH5)

40-59 and 400-599 are assigned to South Asia:
*AH41, 592.5 miles (948 km); border between Myanmar and Bangladesh to Mongla, Bangladesh
*AH42, 2346 miles (3,754 km); Lanzhou, China (on AH5) to Barhi, India (on AH1)
*AH43, 1892 miles (3,024 km); Agra, India (on AH1) to Matara, Sri Lanka
*AH44, 67 miles (107 km); Dambulla, Sri Lanka (on AH43) to Trinconmalee, Sri Lanka
*AH45, 1269 miles (2,030 km); Kolkata, India (on AH1) to Bangalore, India (on AH43/AH47)
*AH46, 946 miles (1,513 km); Kharagpur, India (on AH45) to Dhule, India (on AH47)
*AH47, 1286 miles (2,057 km); Gwalior, India (on AH43) to Bangalore, India (on AH43/AH45)
*AH48, .625 miles (1 km); Phuentsholing, Bhutan to border between Bhutan and India
*AH51, 539 miles (862 km); Peshawar, Pakistan (on AH1) to Quetta, Pakistan (on AH2/AH7)

60-89 and 600-899 are assigned to North Asia, Central Asia and South-West Asia:
*AH60, 1344 miles (2,151 km); Omsk, Russia (on AH6) to Burubaital, Kazakhstan (on AH7)
*AH61, 2599 miles (4,158 km); Kashi, China (on AH4/AH65) to border between Russia and Ukraine
*AH62, 1701 miles (2,722 km); Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan (on AH6/AH64) to Mazari Sharif, Afghanistan (on AH76)
*AH63, 1521 miles (2,434 km); Samara, Russia (on AH6) to Guzar, Uzbekistan (on AH62)
*AH64, 1041 miles (1,666 km); Barnaul, Russia (on AH4) to Petropavlovsk, Russia (on AH6/AH62)
*AH65, 781 miles (1,250 km); Kashi, China (on AH4/AH61) to Termez, Uzbekistan (on AH62)
*AH66, 622 miles (995 km); border between China and Tajikistan to Dushanbe, Tajikistan
*AH67, 1430 miles (2,288 km); Kuitun, China (on AH5) to Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (on AH62)
*AH68, 174 miles (278 km); Jinghe, China (on AH5) to Ucharal, Kazakhstan (on AH60)
*AH70, 3020 miles (4,832 km); border between Ukraine and Russia to Bandar Abbas, Iran
*AH71, 266 miles (426 km); Dilaram, Afghanistan (on AH1) to Dashtak, Iran (on AH75)
*AH72, 717 miles (1,147 km); Tehran, Iran (on AH1/AH2/AH8) to Bushehr, Iran
*AH75, 1169 miles (1,871 km); Tejen, Turkmenistan (on AH5) to Chabahar, Iran
*AH76, 616 miles (986 km); Polekhumri, Afghanistan (on AH7) to Herat, Afghanistan (on AH1/AH77)
*AH77, 811 milwa (1,298 km); Djbulsarcj, Afghanistan (on AH7) to Mary, Turkmenistan (on AH5)
*AH78, 672.5 miles (1,076 km); Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (on AH5) to Kerman, Iran (on AH2)
*AH81, 714 miles (1,143 km); Larsi, Georgia to Aktau, Kazakhstan (on AH70)
*AH82, 788 miles (1,261 km); border between Russia and Georgia to Iveoqlu, Iran (on AH1)
*AH83, 107.5 miles (172 km); Kazakh, Azerbaijan (on AH5) to Yerevan, Armenia (on AH81/AH82)
*AH84, 742.5 miles (1,188 km); Dogubayazit, Turkey (on AH1) to İçel, Turkey
*AH85, 211 miles (338 km); Refahiye, Turkey (on AH1) to Merzifon, Turkey (on AH5)
*AH86, 154 miles (247 km); Askale, Turkey (on AH1) to Trabzon, Turkey (on AH5)
*AH87, 378.75 miles (606 km); Ankara, Turkey (on AH1) to İzmir, Turkey

Distance by country

The planned network runs a total of 87799 miles (140,479 km).
*Afghanistan, (4,247 km)
*Armenia, (958 km)
*Azerbaijan, 901.25 miles (1,442 km)
*Bangladesh, 1127.5 miles (1,804 km)
*Bhutan .625 miles (1 km)
*Cambodia, 837 miles (1,339 km)
*China, 15,978 miles (25,579 km)
*Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), 825 miles (1,320 km)
*Georgia, 721.25 miles (1,154 km)
*India, 7145 miles (11,432 km)
*Indonesia, 2493 miles (3,989 km)
*Islamic Republic of Iran, 6970 miles (11,152 km)
*Japan, 750 miles (1,200 km)
*Kazakhstan, (13,189 km)
*Kyrgyzstan, 1059 miles (1,695 km)
*Lao PDR, 1436 miles (2,297 km)
*Malaysia, 997 miles (1,595 km)
*Mongolia, 2678.75 miles (4,286 km)
*Myanmar, 1877 miles (3,003 km)
*Nepal, 826.6 miles (1,321 km)
*Pakistan, 3360.6 miles (5,377 km)
*Philippines, 2198.1 miles (3,517 km)
*Republic of Korea, 566.9 miles (907 km)
*Russian Federation, 10543.1 miles (16,869 km)
*Singapore, 11.9 miles (19 km)
*Sri Lanka, 406.25 miles (650 km)
*Tajikistan, 1203.1 miles (1,925 km)
*Thailand, 3195 miles (5,112 km)
*Turkey, 3283.75 miles (5,254 km)
*Turkmenistan, 1377.5 miles (2,204 km)
*Uzbekistan, 1853.75 (2,966 km)
*Vietnam, 1673.75 miles (2,678 km)

ee also

*International E-road network
*Trans-Asian Railway

References

External links

* [http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/index.asp?MenuName=AsianHighway The project homepage]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3660467.stm Asia signs up to 'new Silk Road'] BBC News report (April 26, 2004)
* [http://www.unescap.org/unis/press/2004/apr/g09.asp UNESCAP press release announcing treaty]
* [http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/pub_2303/Full%20version.pdf 2003 Asian Highway Handbook] (PDF)
* [http://pakistantimes.net/top030210601.htm Pakistan's Gwadar to Afghanistan, China road declared Asian Highway]