M2 motorway (Pakistan)

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Coordinates: 31°32′19″N 74°15′42″E / 31.53861, 74.26167


M2
Length	367 km
Direction	North-South
Start	Lahore
Primary destinations	Faisalabad, Sargodha, Rawalpindi
End	Islamabad
Construction dates	1992 - 1997
Major junctions	M3
Owner	NHA Pakistan
Operator	NHA

The M2 is a motorway in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is 367 km long and connects Lahore with Islamabad. It then passes through Sheikhupura, Pindi Bhattian, Kot Momin, Salem, Lilla, Kallar Kahar, Balksar, and Chakri before ending just outside the twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad. It then continues on to eventually become the M1 motorway linking the twin cities with Peshawar. The M2 crosses the junction of the M3 (to Faisalabad) at Pindi Bhattian.

1 Route
2 History
3 Junctions & Interchanges
4 Gallery
- 4.1 Interchanges
- 4.2 Misc
5 Interesting facts
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Route

The M2 starts to the west of Lahore, at the Thokar Niaz Baig junction of N5 (National Highway No. 5). Once it crosses the Ravi River, it diverges away from the N5 (also known as GT or Grand Trunk Road) and heads east towards Sheikhupura. Once at Pindi Bhattian, it crosses the M3 junction and then turns north-west. It continues all the way to Kallar Kahar, where the M2 enters the Salt Ranges. This stretch of motorway has been considered the most dangerous road in all of Pakistan for it's sharp turns. At certain points, the maximum speed of all vehicles must be 20 km/h. Once past the Salt Ranges, the M2 turns north and ends just west of Rawalpindi at the junction between the Islamabad Link Road and the M1. The whole stretch of the M2 consists of 6 lanes, and there are a number of rest areas along the route, with washroom and eating facilities.

[edit] History

The M2 was conceived by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his first term(1990-1993) and later inaugurated in 1997, ^[1] during his second term. In late 2006, upgrades were made to the portion of the M2 passing through the Salt Ranges due to increasing complaints of drivers. The upgrades included better marking of the road lines and increased size of road signs for easy visibility.

[edit] Junctions & Interchanges

M2 motorway Map (Islamabad-Lahore section), Pakistan

M2 Motorway
Westbound exits	Junction	Eastbound exits
	1	Lahore Link Road to Kala Shah Kaku and N5
To Sheikhupura and Shahkot	2	To Gujranwala and N5
M3 to Faisalabad	3	To Hafizabad and N5
To Kot Momin and Sargodha	4	To Phalla,Gujrat and N5
To Salem and Bhalwal	5	To Rasul, Kharian and N5
To Lilla and Khushab	6	To Pind Dadan, Jhelum and N5
To Talagang and Khushab	7	To Kallar Kahar, Chakwal, Sohawa and N5
To Balkassar	8	To Mandra and N5
To Pindi Gheb	9	To Chakri and N5
Airport Link Road *	10	To Islamabad Link Road

*Note: Airport Link Road is currently under proposal

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Interchanges

Here is an incomplete (but sorted from North to South) list of interchanges along with the satellite images.

Rawalpindi Interchange (Situated on Islamabad Link Road)	Bhera Interchange	Sial Mor Interchange	Pindi Bhattian Interchange
M3 Interchange, M2	Khanqa Dogran Interchange	Sheikhupura Interchange	Kala Shah Kaku Interchange
Sherakot Interchange	Thokar Niaz Beg Interchange, Lahore Bypass

[edit] Misc

Highest pillared bridge in Asia	Kallar Kahar Service Area (Northern)	Motorway M2 near Kalar Kahar mountainous region	Motorway M2 near Kalar Kahar mountainous region. Cabins for emergency staff can be seen in background.
Motorway M2 at Lilla Interchange	Motorway M2 near Salt Ranges of Khewra.	Motorway M2 near Salt Ranges of Khewra	Motorway M2 near Bhera.
Ravi Toll Plaza, before Ravi River bridge, in Lahore.

[edit] Interesting facts

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