A2 Highway (Ethiopia)
The A2 Highway is a trunk road in Ethiopia. It connects the capital Addis Ababa with Mekelle, as well as with Wukro, Adigrat, Axum, Shire and Humera. Ethiopian the A2 has a length of 1,071 kilometres (665 mi).
| A2 Highway | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 1,071 km (665 mi) |
| Location | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Highway system | |
Route
Towns and cities along the A2 include, from north to south:
- Humera
- Sheraro, connection to Badme (Eritrea)
- Adi Dairo
- Shire – 1,953 m (6,407 ft), connection to (south) Inda Aba Guna, May Tsebri and Debarq; (west) Kisad Gaba, Mayhansse, Dedebit and Addi Remets
- Selekleka or Seleh Leha – 2,107 m (6,913 ft)
- Wkro or Wukro Maray
- Axum – 2,131 m (6,991 ft)
- Adwa-Adi Abun – 1,907 m (6,257 ft), connection to (south) Abi Addi and (north) Rama
- Enticho – 1,964 m (6,444 ft), connection to Yeha
- Bizet – 2,044 m (6,706 ft)
- Adigrat – 2,457 m (8,061 ft), connection to Zalambessa, FatsiSebeya and Asmara (Eritrea)
- Idaga Hamus – 2,670 m (8,760 ft)
- Freweyni – 2,480 m (8,140 ft), connection to Hawzen and Nebelet
- Negash – 2,375 m (7,792 ft)
- Wukro – 1,972 m (6,470 ft), connection to Atsbi
- Agula – 1,930 m (6,330 ft), connection to Berhale (Afar)
- Maymekden – 2,208 m (7,244 ft), connection to Mekelle, Hagre Selam and Abi Addi
- Kwiha – 2,247 m (7,372 ft), connection to Mekelle and Abala
- Adi Gudem – 2,100 m (6,900 ft)
- Alagi Pass – 3,090 m (10,140 ft)
- Ambalage – 2,450 m (8,040 ft)
- Alege Pass – 2,990 m (9,810 ft)
- Maychew – 2,478 m (8,130 ft), connection to Mekoni
- Korem – 2,539 m (8,330 ft)
- Alamata – 1,520 m (4,990 ft), connection to Mekoni
- Kobo – 1,468 m (4,816 ft), connection to Lalibela
- Woldiya – 2,112 m (6,929 ft), connection to Gashena, Lalibela, Debre Tabor, Bahir Dar and Gondar.
- Mersa
- Wichale
- Dessie – 2,470 m (8,100 ft)
- Kombolcha, connection to Afar
- Debre Sina – 2,700 m (8,900 ft)
- Debre Sina Tunnel (length – 590 m (1,940 ft), elevation – 3,120 m (10,240 ft)
- Debre Birhan – 2,840 m (9,320 ft)
- Addis Abeba – 2,355 m (7,726 ft)
Mountain passes
There are three high-mountain passes on the A2:
- Between Ambalage and Adi Gudem over the Alagi pass near Amba Alagi at a height of 3090 meters.
- Between Maychew and Ambalage over the Alage pass at a height of 2990 meters.
- Just west of Debre Sina, the national highway reaches its apex at 3120 meters, formerly the Passo Mussolini. A tunnel was constructed by the Italian occupants near the top of the pass.
The highway crosses the continental divide twice: once at Debre Sina and another time over the Alage pass north of Maychew.
Mekelle
Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, is located ten kilometers off the highway. A large road turns off to Mekelle at Kwiha, the center of the Enderta district. The detour to Mekelle adds thirteen kilometers. To follow the A2 to the north and get to Wukro, Adigrat and further more directly, one has to turn off in Kwiha and follow the road which crosses the plateau east of Mekelle. the A2 joins the Mekelle road detour at the village of Maimekden.
Railway
In the plans for a new Ethiopian railroad network, a railroad would be constructed from Addis Ababa to Mekelle, Shire and then to Humera roughly following the route of the A2.