M-1 motorway (Pakistan)

The M-1 motorway or the Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway (Urdu: اسلام آباد - پشاور موٹروے) is an east–west motorway in Pakistan, connecting Peshawar to Islamabad–Rawalpindi.[2]

M-1 motorway shield}}
M-1 motorway
ایم ١ موٹروے
Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway
اسلام آباد - پشاور موٹروے
Route information
Part of AH1 AH4
Maintained by National Highway Authority
Length155 km[1] (96 mi)
Existed2007–present
Major junctions
West endPRR Peshawar
Major intersections Kernal Sher Khan Interchange
Hazara Interchange
Burhan Interchange
Hakla Interchange
East endIslamabad–Rawalpindi
Location
CountryPakistan
Highway system
 → M-2

The motorway was constructed during President Pervez Musharraf's rule at a cost of Rs. 13 billion, and was opened in October 2007.[3] It spans 155 km (96 mi),[2] with 88 km (55 mi) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 67 km (42 mi) in Punjab.

History
M-1 motorway westbound towards Peshawar.

Work on M-1 was started during Nawaz Sharif's tenure in 1997, and the contract was awarded to Turkish company Bayindar.[4] However, the work stopped after his government was dismissed by Army chief Gen.Pervez Musharraf in october 1999. Progress remained very slow and not much work was done between 1999 and 2003.[4]

Work restarted in 2003 after the contract was re-awarded to a consortium PMC-JV during President Pervez Musharraf's tenure.[4] A plan was made to connect the existing M-2 motorway with the Torkham border. In 2004, the Senate body was briefed on a plan to connect Gwadar Port with the existing motorway infrastructure. Hence, it highlighted importance of M-1 motorway in this context.[5]

It was completed at a cost of Rs. 13 billion, and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 30 October 2007.[6][3]

Route
M-1 Peshawar toll plaza

The M-1 originates northeast of Peshawar at the junction with the Peshawar Ring Road. It then crosses over the Kabul River in an eastern direction passing the cities of Charsadda, Risalpur, Swabi, and Rashakai before crossing the Indus River. The M-1 leaves Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and enters into Punjab province, where it passes through Attock, Burhan, and Hasan Abdal. The M-1 terminates near Islamabad as a continuation of the M-2 motorway.

The whole stretch of the M-1 consists of six lanes, with a number of rest stops along the route. The M-1 has 14 interchanges - at Airport Link Road, Islamabad, AWT/ Sanjiani/ Paswal, Burma Bhatar, Burhan (Hassan Abadal/ Kamra), Hazara Expressway (E-35), Ghazi, Chachh, Sawabi, Rashakai, Charsadda, the Peshawar Northern Bypass and Peshawar Ring Road. At Brahma Bahtar Interchange, the Brahma Bahtar-Yarik Motorway leads towards Dera Ismail Khan.

There are three major bridges along the route along the Haro, Indus and Kabul rivers, 18 flyovers, 27 small bridges, 137 underpasses and 571 culverts. 10 service areas (five on the each side of the motorway) are present along the route.

Junctions and interchanges
M-1 Motorway Junctions
West bound exits Junction East bound exits
PRR Peshawar Ring Road Start of motorway
to Peshawar-Charsadda Road

Peshawar Northern Bypass

 to Chamkiani & N-5 National Highway
to Charsadda & KP Highway S-1

KP Highway S-9

 to Nowshera
to Mardan, Rashakai & N-95 National Highway

N-45 National Highway

 to Risalpur
to Swabi, Topi

KP Highway S-6

 to Jehangira
to Ghorghushti to Lawrencepur
to Hasan Abdal & N-35 National Highway

N-5 National Highway

 to Burhan, Attock
to Taxila/Wah Cantt to Fateh Jang
to Rawalpindi, Islamabad

Kashmir Highway

 to Islamabad International Airport

See also

References
  1. Map Of National Highway Network, Pakistan
  2. "Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway (M-1)". National Highway Authority of Pakistan. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  3. "Inaugural of Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway today". Business Recorder. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  4. "M-1 to cut travel time by an hour". Dawn. 27 October 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  5. "Senate body briefed on M1, Gwadar projects". Dawn. 18 August 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. "Motorway to open in Oct". Dawn. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 25 September 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.