Myanmar's road network consists of five types of roads:
National highways are also known as union highways. [1]
Myanmar's expressway network is undergoing gradual modernization, with the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway (E 1) serving as its backbone. Completed in 2010, the E 1 is a 590-kilometer, four-lane highway linking the country's largest city Yangon with the central hub Mandalay via Naypyidaw, the capital. Beyond the E 1, Myanmar has outlined plans for five additional expressways. [2]
| No. | Route | Length (km) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| E 1 | Yangon - Naypyidaw - Mandalay | 589.62 | Active |
| E 2 | Mandalay - Myitkyina | 460 | Planned |
| E 3 | Pathein - Monywa - Shwebo | 811 | Planned |
| E 4 | Minbu - Ann - Kyaukphyu | 350 | Planned |
| E 5 | Yangon - Pathein - Ngayokaung | 304 | Planned |
| E 6 | Thilawa - Thanatpin - Kyaikto | 135 | Planned |
In 2021, the Ministry of Construction published a list of 50 national highways. [3] This numbering system is designed as a grid, with numbers increasing from south to north. There is no clear system within this grid, but the numbers are somewhat zoned. However, certain numbers do not run east-west or north-south. Some routes do not actually exist as drivable road connections.
In the past, there was a different system where single-digit roads formed the main routes, with the 1 and 2 between Yangon and Mandalay, with other single-digit roads branching off from them, and the two-digit roads branching off from the single-digit roads. This created a zoned system with three-digit numbers as well.
The main highways are as follows:
Main arterials are designated with one to two digits numbers. The numbering of arterials are numbered according to their direction: north-south roads are assigned odd numbers, increasing from west to east; east-west roads are assigned even numbers, increasing from south to north. [4]
| No. | Route | Length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| A 1 | Pathein - Shwe Myin Tin-Chaungtha - Gwa - Kyeintali - Thandwe - Taungup - Ma-Ei - Ann - Na Yan Junction - Minbya - Pauktaw - Rathedaung - Buthidaung - Maungdaw - Kyein Chaung - Baw Tu Lar (Bangladesh Border) | 889.301 |
| A 2 | Tanintharyi - Hton Kha - Thea Hpyu - Maw Daung (border Thailand) | 77.651 |
| A 3 | Labutta - Myaungmya - Einme - Kyaunggon - Kan Ka Lay - Yae Nant Thar - Kwin Kauk - Bwet Yoe - Oakshitpin - Pa Dan - Kan Pyar - Ka Zun Ma -Saw - Kyaukhtu - Htilin - Gangaw - Han Thar Wa Di - Kalay - Kyi Kone - Tamu (Border of India) | 1071.226 |
| A 4 | Dawei - Pa Kar Ri - Myit Tar - Sin Hpyu Taing - Htee Khee (Phu Nam Ron)(border Thailand) | 140.818 |
| A 5 | Yangon - Hmawbi - Taikkyi - Thayarwady - Min Hla - Pyay - Kamma - Thayet - Minhla - Minbu - Magway - Yenangyaung - Kyaukpadaung - Nyaung-U - Let Pan Chi Paw -Pakokku- Myaing - Lin Ka Taw - Kyar Tet - Salingyi - Monywa - Ye-U - Taze - Kanbalu - Kyunhla - Kawlin - Win Gyi - Wuntho - Nant Thea - Nam See Awng - Namti | 1328.827 |
| A 6 | Thanbyuzayat - Chaungzon - Payathonzu | 101.791 |
| A 7 | Yangon - Bago - Taungoo - Pyinmana - Pyawbwe -Meiktila - Kyaukse - Mandalay - Madaya - Let Pan Hla - Hpawt Taw - Twin Nge - Tagaung - Mya Taung - Ngar Oe - Thar Yar Kone - Shwegu - Nga Bat Gyi - Man Wein Lay - Sa Wan Ka Htaung - Bhamo - Waingmaw - Myitkyina - Sumprabum - Putao | 1597.933 |
| A 8 | Ngayokekaung - Ngayokekaung Taung - Oke Shit Kwin - Nga Pu Taw - Pammawaddy - Myaungmya - Wakema - Mawlamyinegyun - Baik Lay - Pyapon - Dedaye - Kungyangon - Kawmhu - Kan Beit - Dala - Thanlyin - Thongwa - Thanatpin - Bilin | 583.847 |
| A 9 | Kawthaung - Bokepyin - Tanintharyi - Kyauk Hpyu Taung (Myeik) - Ye - Thanbyuzayat - Mudon - Mawlamyine - Thaton - Bilin - Papun - Khe Ma Hpyu - Hpasawng - Bawlakhe - Loikaw - Hopong - Loilem - Pang Kay Tu - Hko Long - Mae Han - Lashio - Theinni - Kutkai - Nam Hpat Kar - Muse (Border of China) | 2206.258 |
| A 10 | Pathein - Kan Ka Lay - Kyaung Kone - Pantanaw - Sar Ma Lauk - Htan Ta Pin - Hmawbi - Htauk Kyant - Za Yat Kwin - Bago - Sit Taung - Bilin - Thaton - Hpa-An - Naung Lon - Gyaing - Kyondoe -Hlaing Kwei - Myawaddy (Border of Thailand) | 597.668 |
| A 11 | Tachileik/Keng Lat - Tarlay - Mong Hpyak - Kengtung - Mongkhet - Mong Nang - Mong Pawk - Nawng Hkat - Mongmao - Man Mein Hon - Nam Hu (Border of China) | 679.143 |
| A 12 | Toungup - Pandaung - Pyay - Paukkaung - Oktwin - Taungoo - Thandaung - Mawchi - Hpasawng - Mese - BP-13 (Border of Thailand) | 640.601 |
| A 14 | Kyaukphyu - Ma-Ei - Ann - Pa Dan - Minbu - Magway - Taungdwingyi - Chaung Net - Taung Nyo - Pyinmana - Pinlaung - Pekon - Loikaw | 725.614 |
| A 16 | Sittwe - Ponnagyun - Kyauktaw - Paletwa - Matupi - Mindat - Kanpetlet - Ka Zun Ma - Chauk - Gway Cho - Kyaukpadaung - Meiktila - Thazi - Hpa Yar Ngar Su - Kalaw - Taunggyi - Hopong - Loilem - Nansang - Kholam - Tar Kaw - Mong Ping - Kengtung - Mong Ma - Mong La (Border of China) | 1512.883 |
| A 18 | Hakha - Gangaw - Pale - Monywa - Myinmu - Ohn Taw - Sagaing - Myitnge - Htone Bo - Pyin Oo Lwin - Kyaukme - Hsipaw - Lashio - Theinni - Kunlong - Nam Hu - Chinshwehaw (Border of China) | 873.704 |
| A 20 | Kalay - Kyi Kone- Kalewa - Thet Kei Kyin - Taze - Ye-U - Shwebo - Kyaukmyaung - Singu- Let Pan Hla- Hpawt Taw - Thabeikkyin - Twin Nge - Momeik - Mantong - Mong Wee - Namhkam - Muse (Border of China) | 695.942 |
| A 22 | Tamu (Border of India) - Sit Thaung - Yawng Hee - Pinlebu - Win Gyi - Wuntho - Kyauk Tan - Sin Kone - Ma Ra Thein - Htigyaing - Mya Taung - Ngar Oe - Thar Yar Kone - Kyay Taw - Nga Bat Gyi - Hsin Hkan - Han Htet - Man Wein Lay - Sa Wan Ka Htaung - Mansi - Kaik Hteik - Man Wean Gyi - Namhkam | 622.506 |
| A 24 | Pansau (India border) - Nanyun - Shingbwiyang - Tanai - Lawa - Namti - Myitkyina - Waingmaw - Sa Done - Kanpaikti (China border) | 491.196 |
Sub arterials road numbers consist of two parts: the first part is the region/state code and the second part is the road code. The road number are numbered according to their direction: north-south roads are assigned odd numbers, increasing from west to east; east-west roads are assigned even numbers, increasing from south to north. Roads numbered 1 to 99 are within the same region/state, and roads numbered 201 to 299 are connecting two regions/states. [5]
| Region/State | Code |
|---|---|
| Kachin State | 1 |
| Kayah State | 2 |
| Kayin State | 3 |
| Chin State | 4 |
| Sagaing Region | 5 |
| Tanintharyi Region | 6 |
| Bago Region | 7 |
| Magway Region | 8 |
| Mandalay Region | 9 |
| Mon State | 10 |
| Rakhine State | 11 |
| Yangon Region | 12 |
| Eastern Shan State | 13 |
| Southern Shan State | 14 |
| Northern Shan State | 15 |
| Ayeyarwady Region | 16 |
| Naypyidaw Union Territory | 17 |
There are seven Asian Highway routes within Myanmar, three of which are also ASEAN highways. [6]
| No. | Route | Length (km) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH1 | Payagyi - Thaton - Myawaddy(border of Thailand) Yangon - Payagyi - Taungoo - Meiktila - Mandalay - Monywa - Kalewa - Kaley - Tamu (border of India) | 1542.706 | Asian Highway |
| AH2 | Meiktila - Loilen - Kengtung - Tachileik (border of Thailand) | 790.084 | Asian Highway |
| AH3 | Kengtung - Mong La (border of China) | 87.508 | Asian Highway |
| AH14 | Mandalay - Hsipaw - Muse (border of China) | 446.370 | Asian Highway |
| AH111 | Loilen - Hsipaw | 240.193 | ASEAN Highway |
| AH112 | Thaton - Mawlamyine - Dawei - Kawthaung | 1111.963 | ASEAN Highway |
| AH123 | Dawei - Phu Nam Ron (border of Thailand) | 140.817 | ASEAN Highway |
Media related to Roads in Myanmar at Wikimedia Commons