(Facts about highways) “Not all those who wander are lost.” Highways that we travel on are unpredictable. They can be thrilling, beautiful or deadly. The ones who love to travel, like me, often wonder what’s in store for them before their journey begins. Highways are a great assistance for trade between towns and countries. A highway can make you reach another city, in a few hours. The scenic beauty of these highways is highly pleasurable. But how much do you know about the highways of the world?
Here are a few facts about highways of the world, for you to know!
1. Australia’s Highway 1, circles almost the entire continent.
#1 Facts about highways: Australia’s Highway 1, which is 14,500 kilometers and runs across mainland capitals of the continent. Except for the Australian capital territory, Highway 1 connects all the states. It was created as part of the National Route Numbering system, adopted in 1955. Additionally, Highway 1 has multiple tributary highways. “Highway one to hell” set a new record on the 18th June 2017 for a complete drive around Australia.
2. China has the world’s largest network of highways.
#2 Facts about highways: China comprises of the world’s largest network of expressways or highways. In 2015, 11,050 kilometers (6,870 mi) of the expressway was built. Therefore, making the total length to be equal to 123,000 kilometers. The total cost of the national expressway network is approximately 2 trillion yuan, which is nearly 300 billion US Dollars.
3. Pan American Highway, running a total length of 30,000 kilometers is the longest highway in the world.
#3 Facts about highways: According to Guinness Book of World Records, the Pan American Highway is the longest motorable road in the world. With a total of length of 30,000 kilometers, the Pan American Highway runs across 14 countries and all the climatic zones. On 29th July 1937, all the major countries of North America and South America agreed on the construction of the Pan American Highway. The most difficult part of the highway is where, the road rises to a height of 10,942 feet thus, being named as Summit of death.
4. There is a building in Japan which has a highway passing through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors.
#4 Facts about highways: The Gate Tower is a building in Fukushima-ku, Osaka, Japan is a 16-floor building. Interestingly, this skyscraper in Japan is known for a highway running through its 5th, 6th, and 7th floors. It is called the Umeda Exit of the Ikeda Route of the Hanshin Expressway system. The Gate Tower’s elevators skip 5th, 6th, and 7th floors. Moreover, the building has a helipad on its roof. The highway is a tenant of the 3 floors of the building and it is covered by a structure to prevent any disturbance in the building.
5. There is an underpass for elephants to cross the highway near Mt Kenya. It took less than 12 hours for the 1st elephant to use it.
#5 Facts about highways: In 2011, an underpass was constructed for the reunion of two tribes of elephants, near Mount Kenya. The construction of the underpass took 10 long years and cost a whopping amount of $250,000 which was paid using donor funds. The 15-feet underpass was built as a gesture of love in a man-animal relationship. Moreover, only 12 hours after the completion of construction, an elephant used the underpass to cross the highway.
6. M-185 Michigan highway prohibits motor vehicles. It can only be accessed by bike, horse, or foot.
#6 Facts about highways: A narrow, 8-mile highway in Michigan, M-185 is the only state highway in the nation not meant for motor vehicles. This highway lies on an island, disconnected from any other state highway in Michigan. It is for the use of people on foot, horses, bikes and emergency vehicles. The construction of the highway completed in 1933 and until 2005, it was the only state highway with zero vehicle accidents.
7. In Germany, it is illegal to run out of fuel on highways.
#7 Facts about highways: In Autobahn, Germany, it is illegal to run out of gas on highways. The drivers running out of gas are penalized up to $100. Moreover, it is even illegal to walk on the highway. The Autobahn, Germany’s legendary federal highway system, is known for its liberal approach to speed limits. The penalty is charged, as a car running out of gas or a person walking on the highway may cause danger to others, as highways are meant for speeding.
8. Trans-Canada highway is the longest point to point highway in the world.
#8 Facts about highways: The 8000-kilometre long Trans-Canada Highway is the world’s longest national highway, crossing all the 10 provinces of Canada. The highway running from Pacific coast in the west to the Atlantic coast in the east was started building in 1950 and completed in 1971. In 2012, Sun Country Highway, a private company installed electric vehicle charging stations on the highway. So, it soon became the world’s longest electric vehicle ready highway.
9. King’s Highway 401 of Ontario, Canada is the busiest highway in the world.
#9 Facts about highways: The 828 kilometers long, Highway 401 is a core route of Canada’s National Highway System. It runs from Windsor to Ontario-Quebec border. Fascinatingly, the part of the highway in Toronto is the busiest highway in the world. Moreover, the speed limit on this highway is 100 km/hr. As of 2006, on an average 373,700 vehicles crossed this section of the highway.
10. The Karakoram Highway is the highest national highway in the world.
#10 Facts about highways: Built in 1966, the National Highway 35 or the Karakoram Highway in Pakistan is the world’s highest highway. Interestingly, the 1300-km achieves an elevation of 15,466-feet in the Karakoram mountain ranges. It is also known as China-Pakistan Friendship Highway as it extends to China and becomes China National Highway 314. Additionally, due to the rough and difficult condition of the highway, it attracts many tourists across the globe. Therefore, it is also called as the 8th wonder of the world.
Above all these facts about highways, these beautiful long roads will always be a traveler’s first love!
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