Mittraphap Road Explained

Country:THA
Type:R
Route:2
Map Custom:yes
Alternate Name:ถนนมิตรภาพ Thanon Mittraphap
"Friendship Highway"
Length Km:509.113
Direction A:Southwest
Direction B:Northeast
Terminus A: Phahonyothin Rd., Mueang Saraburi, Saraburi
Terminus B:Nong Khai, Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge
Formed:1957
Provinces:Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima
Khon Kaen
Udon Thani, Nong Khai

Mittraphap Road (in Thai pronounced as /tʰā.nǒn mít.trā.pʰâːp/; ถนนมิตรภาพ, in Lao pronounced as /tʰā.nǒn mìt.tā.pʰâːp/) or Highway 2 is one of the four primary highways in Thailand, along with Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1), Sukhumvit Road (Highway 3), and Phetkasem Road (Highway 4). It runs from Saraburi to Nong Khai.

The road was originally built from Khorat to Nong Khai by the United States in 1955–1957[1] at a cost of US$20 million to supply its northeastern military bases.[2]

It is the first highway in Thailand to meet international standards, and the first highway in Thailand to use both asphalt and concrete. It received the name "Thanon Mittraphap" on 20 February 1957. The name literally means "Friendship Road". It is the main road that connects Isan (northeastern Thailand) across the Dong Phaya Yen Range. The highway begins at Saraburi, Phahonyothin Road (Highway 1) junction. It passes through the provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, and ends in Nong Khai, where it links with the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to Laos.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Baker . Chris . Phongpaichit . Pasuk . A History of Thailand . 2009 . Cambridge University Press . 9780521759151 . 156 . 2nd, paper.
  2. Book: Keyes . Charles F . Cornell Thailand Project; Interim Reports Series, No. 10. March 1967 . Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University. Ithaca . 16 August 2019 . Isan: Regionalism in Northeastern Thailand.