Asian Highway Network
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. The highway network would provide for greater trade and social interactions between Asian countries, including personal contacts, project capitalizations, connections of major container terminals with transportation points, and promotion of tourism.
It is one of the three pillars of the Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development – ALTID project, endorsed by The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific – UNESCAP commission at its 48th session in 1992, comprising Asian Highway – AH, Trans-Asian Railway – TAR and facilitation of land transport projects.
In 2003, 55 AH routes among 32 member countries were identified and Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network – IGA was adopted and signed by 23 counties during the 60th session of the UNESCAP Commission at Shanghai the following year.
Asian HIghway consists of different groups of routes, including Continent-Wide Routes AH1 – AH9
| Route No | Distance | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH1 | 20,557 km | Tokyo, Japan | Kapıkule, Bulgaria–Turkey border – E80 |
| AH2 | 13,177 km | Bali, Indonesia | Khosravi, Iran |
| AH3 | 7,331 km | Ulan-Ude, Russia Shanghai, China |
Tanggu, China Chiang Rai, Thailand and Kyaing Tong, Myanmar |
| AH4 | 6,024 km | Novosibirsk, Russia | Karachi, Pakistan |
| AH5 | 10,380 km | Shanghai, China | Kapıkule, Bulgaria–Turkey border – E80 |
| AH6 | 10,475 km | Busan, South Korea | Krasnoye, Belarus–Russia border – E30 |
| AH7 | 5,868 km | Yekaterinburg, Russia | Karachi, Pakistan |
| AH8 | 4,718 km | Torfyanovka, Russia–Finland border |
Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni, Iran |
| AH9 | 9,222 km | St. Petersburg, Russia | Lianyungang, China |
| AH18 | 1,042 km | Hatyai, Thailand | Johor Bahru, Malaysia |
Asian Highway in Peninsular Malaysia
There are 2 Asian Highway Network routes passing through Peninsular Malaysia, namely Continent-Wide Route AH2 & Southeast Asia Route AH18.
AH2: from Hat Yai in Thailand via Sadao Border, enters Bukit Kayu Hitam in Malaysia via North-south Expressway [E1] to Alor Setar – Sungai Petani – Butterworth (Penang) – Taiping (Perak) – Ipoh – Bidor – Tanjung Malim – Rawang (Selangor) – Damansara – Subang, enter Elite in Shah Alam – USJ – Putra Heights – by-passing Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and enter NSE [E2] in Nilai (Negeri Sembilan). Then continues through Seremban – Ayer Keroh (Melaka) – Yong Peng (Johor) – Senai – Johor Bahru, to Singapore.
Whereas,
AH18 starts from Hat Yai in south Thailand via Su-ngai Kolok Border, enters Rantau Panjang in Malaysia via Federal Route 3 to Kota Bharu – Jerteh – Kuantan Bypass – Mersing – Tebrau – Johor Bahru, to Singapore.
Glossary Asian Highway Network
- AH – Asian Highway
- TAR – Trans-Asian Railway
- UNESCAP – United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
- ALTID – Asian Land Transport Infrastructure Development
- IGA – Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network