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.

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 endPeshawar
Major intersections Burhan Interchange
Brahma Bahtar Interchange
East endIslamabad–Rawalpindi
Location
CountryPakistan
Highway system

The motorway was constructed during President Pervez Musharraf's rule at a cost of Rs. 13 bn., and was opened in October 2007. It spans 155 km (96 mi), 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 Benazir Bhutto's tenure in 1993, and the contract was awarded to Turkish company Bayindar. However, the work stopped after her government was dismissed by President Farooq Leghari.[2] Progress remained very slow and not much work was done between 1993 and 1997. Work was restarted in 2003 during President Pervez Musharraf's tenure in 2003. 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.[3] It was completed with a cost of Rs. 13 bn and was inaugurated by President Pervez Musharraf on 30 October 2007.[4]

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 6 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 has commenced towards Dera Ismail Khan.

There are 3 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. "M-1 to cut travel time by an hour". Dawn (newspaper). 27 October 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. "Senate body briefed on M1, Gwadar projects". Dawn (newspaper). 18 August 2004. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  4. "Motorway to open in Oct". Dawn (newspaper). 21 August 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2021.


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