03/02/2006

Detailed Assessment by Ben Wielgosz - UNJLC

• Hour:  Depart Islamabad at 8:50   
• Road Surface:  A 4-Lane Paved Highway, which narrows to 2-Lane Highway at Hassan Abdal
• Road Condition: Good
• Capacity:  All
• Hazards:  None
• Assessment:  M1/M2 is the main highway heading southwest out of Islamabad until it intersects the highway to Taxila as it crosses through the western tail of the Margallah hills.  The road to Taxila is marked by a tollbooth and is strung with gas stations.  Hassan Abdul is the name for both a large hill-ridge and the settlement behind it.  There is a detour to Haripur called Khan Pur Road, which bypasses Hassan Abdul.The route turns off the highway just after the hill and heads through the settlement. This turn is marked by a 52km from ISB and 74km from Abbottabad sign. 
  
  After turning, the road condition changes from the 4-lane highway into a typical two lane undivided paved road.  The road between Hassan Abdul and Haripur consists of a number of small roadside farming communities and a few police kiosks.  Haripur is 85km from Islamabad.  The Kahn Pur road detour rejoins the main route at the southern entrance-fork into Haripur.  Traffic is heavy through Haripur.
  

Location:  Haripur - Havellian - Abbottabad

• Hour:    11:00am [Arrive Abbottabad]
• Road Surface:  2-Lane Paved Highway
• Road Condition: Good
• Capacity:  All
• Hazards:  None
• Assessment:  As the road from Harpur nears Havellian, it bypasses the main city.  There is a set of munitions factories and depots on the eastern side of the road and then to the east on the eastern side of those is the city.  The city is accessed from an intersection/road at the bridge leading north towards Abbottabad.  The railroad from Peshawar terminates in Havellian. 
  
  The road from Havellian to Abbottabad is paved and two-lane.  About 10km between the two, the road travels into the valley and begins to rise up towards Abbottabad, becoming noticeably steeper and narrower, however remains highly travelled and well maintained. 
  
  Abbottabad is a major city and has all the features of such.  The mid point of the city is roughly the T-junction where the road to Murree departs.  This is also the road on which the NRC camp and HLZ is based.  
  

   
 
Location:  Abbottabad - Murree

• Hour:    11:20-1:20
• Road Surface:  Single Lane paved highway
• Road Condition: Good
• Capacity:  All
• Hazards:  Potential Snow fall, small debris on tight switchbacks.
• Assessment:  Taking the Murree road east from the Haripur-Mansehra road, passing the NRC camp, it winds out of Abbottabad to the edge of the valley and continues on to to Murree.  This is probably the only stretch of road considered less than ideal.  After dipping down to the valley floor at the small settlement of Harno Bazaar, the road follows a long series of switchbacks up to the mountain ridge.  It is a slow road to travel.  The driveable speed and the speed limit are both 30km/hour.  The road ascends past the snow line, and this is where cautious driving becomes required as there is debris along the single lane that hugs the cliff side.  Generally, the road is kept clear and the tourist presence appears to be a good indication of the road's safety.  The road enters Ayubi National Park where it reaches its high-pass of 2550m or 8200feet.  The road then quickly descends towards Murree, but does not actually reach Murree, which is a km or so east of the main north-south road between Islamabad and Muzaffarabad.  After an approximately 2 hour drive from Abbottabad, one rejoins this Muzaffarabad road at a junction called Kulduna.  The junction by which to reach Murree is slightly south of Kulduna at a place called Sani Bank.
  

Location:  Murree - Islamabad

• Hour:    1:20 - 2:20
• Road Surface:  2 Lane paved highway broadening to 4 Lanes as it enters Islamabad
• Road Condition: Good
• Capacity:  All
• Hazards: None
• Assessment:  The road between Murree and Islamabad is a well-paved two-lane highway that is properly maintained and highly travelled by all types of vehicles.  Travelling this road should not be a difficulty.  There are numerous settlements the entire way.  The road enters Islamabad from the South East.  It connects to the M1/M2 at the Serena hotel via a dogleg and is labelled on Islamabad city maps as the Murree road.
  

 
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