Ethiopian Highway 2
The Ethiopian Highway 2 is a highway in Ethiopia. It connects the capital Addis Ababa with Mekelle, as well as with Wukro, Adigrat, Axum, Shire and Humera. Ethiopian Highway 2 has a length of 974 kilometers.
| Highway 2 | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Length | 1,071 km (665 mi) |
| Highway system | |
| Transport in Ethiopia | |
Route
Towns and cities along Ethiopian Highway 2 include, from north to south:
- Humera
- Sheraro, connection to Badme (Eritrea)
- Adi Dairo
- Shire (1953m), connection to (south) Inda Aba Guna, May Tsebri and Debarq; (west) Kisad Gaba, Mayhansse, Dedebit and Addi Remets
- Selekleka or Seleh Leha (2107m)
- Wkro or Wukro Maray (m)
- Axum (2131m)
- Adwa-Adi Abun (1907m), connection to (south) Abi Addi and (north) Rama
- Enticho (1964m), connection to Yeha
- Bizet (2044m)
- Adigrat (2457m), connection to Zalambessa, FatsiSebeya and Asmara (Eritrea)
- Idaga Hamus (2670m)
- Freweyni (2480m), connection to Hawzen and Nebelet
- Negash (2375m)
- Wukro (1972m), connection to Atsbi
- Agula (1930m), connection to Berhale (Afar)
- Maymekden (2208m), connection to Mekelle, Hagre Selam and Abi Addi
- Kwiha (2247m), connection to Mekelle and Abala
- Adi Gudem (2100m)
- Alagi Pass (3090m)
- Ambalage (2450m)
- Alege Pass (2990m)
- Maychew (2478m), connection to Mekoni
- Korem (2539m)
- Alamata (1520m), connection to Mekoni
- Kobo (1468m), connection to Lalibela
- Woldiya (2112m), connection to Gashena, Lalibela, Debre Tabor, Bahir Dar and Gondar.
- Mersa
- Wichale
- Dessie (2470m)
- Kombolcha, connection to Afar
- Debre Sina (2700m)
- Debre Sina Tunnel (length 590m) (3120m)
- Debre Birhan (2840m)
- Addis Abeba (2355m)
Mountain passes
There are three high-mountain passes on Highway 2:
- 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 Highway 2 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. Highway 2 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 Highway 2.