KAROKORAM HIGHWAY NOW OPEN TO TOURISTS

The Khunjerab Pass between Pakistan and China, part of the 800 kilometer Karokoram Highway which was completed in 1979, was opened to tourists in May 1986. At an elevation 4593 meters, it is the highest border crossing in the world. The 2-lane heavy duty highway is 10 meters wide, of which 6.5 meters is paved. Grades are kept to a maximum of 1 in 20, allowing heavy traffic to move at an average speed of 80 kilometers an hour. 24,500 army engineers, technicians and laborers from both Pakistan and China were employed in the construction which took 20 years. Over 10,000 Pakistani troops work around the clock to keep the highway clear of rock slides and avalanches.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/25073860
• Corporate Authors:

  International Road Federation

  525 School Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20024
• Publication Date: 1986-7

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 12
• Serial:
  • World Highways/Routes du Monde
  • Volume: 37
  • Issue Number: 6
  • Publisher: Route One Publishing Limited
  • ISSN: 0964-4598
  • Serial URL: http://www.worldhighways.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Avalanches; International roads; Mountains; Road construction; Rockslides; Tourists
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Geotechnology; Highways; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00459201
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 31 1986 12:00AM