# A1 road (Ethiopia)

The A1 Road is a road in Ethiopia that spans a total distance of 802 kilometers. The road traverses an arc-shaped route through the central and eastern regions of the country, connecting the capital city Addis Ababa to the border with Eritrea at Bure. The route passes through Adama and Awash. Additionally, a branch of the A1 extends to the border with Djibouti, providing a link between Ethiopia and its neighboring countries.

## Route

The A1 trunk road in Ethiopia connects the central highlands to the sparsely populated eastern region, providing an international route to Eritrea and Djibouti. The middle section, between Addis Ababa and Adama, is a busy corridor passing through urbanized areas, with the Addis Ababa-Adama Expressway running parallel. The road features multiple lanes in Addis Ababa and a wide carriageway outside the city.
As the A1 descends from the highlands towards Awash, the population density decreases. The road then traverses a desert-like region in eastern Ethiopia, characterized by a single-lane asphalted road and few small towns. A 25-kilometer branch, A1a, connects to Djibouti.
Beyond the branch, the A1 deteriorates into an unpaved, poorly maintained gravel road leading to the Eritrean border. This section passes through a rugged rocky desert with non-functional bridges and no formal border crossing. On the Eritrean side, the P7 road continues to the port city of Assab.

## History

The A1 Road was primarily developed during the Italian administration between 1936 and 1940, known as the "Strada Imperiali" from Addis Ababa to Assab. Initially, it served as the main trade link between Ethiopia and the global market through the port of Assab. Two routes connected the central highlands: the western route via Kombolcha and the eastern route via Awash, converging south of Mile.
Following Eritrea's independence in 1993, the port of Assab continued to facilitate Ethiopian exports until 1998, when the border closure abruptly redirected all exports to the port of Djibouti. The 25-kilometer branch to Djibouti had already established the A1 as the de facto main route between Ethiopia and Djibouti.
The Ethiopian-Eritrean war resulted in significant damage to the road, particularly in the border area, with several bridges destroyed. This section remains unrepaired since the conflict. However, improved relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2018 may potentially lead to future infrastructure development and restoration.

### Road number history

The A1 Road was previously designated as multiple route numbers. The section from Addis Ababa to Awash was Route 4, the section from Awash to Mile was Route 18, and the section from Mile to the Eritrean border was Route 2. In 2013, a new road numbering system was implemented, and this route was unified under the single designation of A1.
Notably, the African Union has incorporated almost the entire length of the A1 into Trans-Africa Highway 10, recognizing its significance as a regional transportation artery. This designation highlights the importance of the A1 in connecting Ethiopia to its neighboring countries and facilitating international trade and travel.

### Upgrades in Addis Ababa

In the central highlands, the A1 is a critical transportation artery, particularly in the busy corridor between Addis Ababa and Adama (Nazret). To enhance connectivity and alleviate congestion, infrastructure developments have been undertaken. Notably, the Gotera Interchange was constructed with Chinese support between 2006 and 2009, marking one of the first nodes in Ethiopia. The interchange was officially inaugurated on May 31, 2009.
Further upgrades include the introduction of the Addis Ababa Light Rail in 2015, which features viaducts within the A1's central reservation. Additionally, in 2022, viaducts were built to facilitate through traffic on the A1 over the Ring Road, further improving the road's capacity and efficiency. These developments underscore the importance of the A1 in Ethiopia's transportation network.

### Replacement by motorways

The A1 motorway section between Addis Ababa and Adama (Nazret) has been superseded by the Addis Ababa-Adama Expressway, which was inaugurated on September 14, 2014. This expressway, Ethiopia's first toll road, provides an alternative route, bypassing the original A1 motorway.
Furthermore, construction commenced in May 2021 on the Adama-Awash Expressway, an extension of the A1 motorway. This new expressway aims to divert traffic away from the existing Awash motorway, enhancing the overall transportation infrastructure in the region. The development of these expressways underscores Ethiopia's efforts to upgrade its road network and improve connectivity.