| Guam Highway 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Corps Drive | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Guam Department of Public Works | ||||
| Length: | 21.04 mi[1] (33.86 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: | GH-2A / Entrance Gate to Naval Base Guam in Santa Rita | |||
| GH-18 in Piti GH-6 in Piti GH-6 in Asan GH-4 in Hagåtña GH-8 in Hagåtña GH-14B in Tamuning GH-16 in Tamuning GH-3 in Dededo |
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| East end: | GH-9 / Entrance Gate to Andersen AFB in Yigo | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Guam Highway 1, also known as Marine Corps Drive, is one of the primary automobile routes in the United States territory of Guam. It runs in a southwest to northeast direction, from the main gate of Naval Base Guam in the western community of Santa Rita in a general northeasterly direction to the main gate of Andersen Air Force Base in the community of Yigo. It passes through Guam's capital, Hagåtña, as well as intersecting various other territorial highways.
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Guam Highway 1 begins near the entrance gate to Naval Base Guam, at a junction with Guam Highway 2A. Known as Marine Corps Drive, the route then travels to the northeast through the town of Piti. After passing through Piti, the road runs inland from the shoreline before turning slightly to the east, now paralleling the coast, where it passes through the community of Asan. Soon, thereafter, the road cuts a path, due east, towards the Island's capital, Hagåtña where it passes through the northern edge of the city.
After passing through the capital and the community of Mongmong, the road turns towards the northeast as it skirts to the west of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport on its way through the village of Tamuning. After the airport, the route runs inland from the shoreline as it cuts across the southern edges of Dededo and Yigo villages before reaching its terminus at Salisbury Junction, the main entrance to Andersen Air Force Base, where the road continues to the northwest as Guam Highway 9.
Like most major highways on Guam, a 35 mph (56 km/h) speed limit is posted throughout most of its length. In the past, Route 1 was one of the few roads to post a 45 mph (72 km/h) limit on lengths of less-developed roadway. However, as more of the area became developed, certain sections of the roads were posted with lower limits. Travelers heading north away from the developed areas are allowed a 45 mph (72 km/h) speed limit. However, the southbound lanes on the same sections remain posted at 35 mph (56 km/h) due to development on the western side of the road.[2]
The United States Military began to develop and construct roads on the island in 1941.[3] Some roads had existed prior to this, but improvements were beginning to take shape. Only one road, which encircled most of the island, had been graded. It was the primary route linking Agana (the name of the capital at the time) to Piti and Asan. This was the foundation for Marine Corps Drive.[3]
Named Marine Corps Drive throughout its length, it was known as simply Marine Drive until the road was rededicated by Governor Felix Perez Camacho in 2004.[4]
| Location | Mile[1] | Roads intersected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rita | 0.00 | Entrance to Naval Base Guam | Western terminus |
| 0.05 | GH-2A | ||
| Piti | 2.72 | GH-18 | |
| 2.82 | GH-6 | ||
| Asan | 6.00 | GH-6 | |
| Hagåtña | GH-4 | ||
| 7.84 | GH-8 | ||
| Tamuning | 10.34 | GH-14B | |
| 13.19 | GH-16 | ||
| Yigo | 21.04 | GH-9 | Eastern terminus Entrance to Andersen Air Force Base |