Beira–Lobito Highway
The Beira–Lobito Highway or TAH 9 is Trans-African Highway 9 in the transcontinental road network being developed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (ADB), and the African Union. The route has a length of 3,523 km (2,189 mi) crossing Angola, the most southerly part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and central Mozambique.
Trans-African Highway 9 | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Length | 3,523 km (2,189 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| East end | Beira, Mozambique | |||
| TAH 4 in Zambia TAH 3 in Alto Hama, Angola | ||||
| West end | Lobito, Angola | |||
| Location | ||||
| Highway system | ||||
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The route links mining areas of DR Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe and agricultural production areas of Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe to the Atlantic port of Lobito and Indian Ocean port of Beira. Civil wars in Angola, DR Congo, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have affected development of the highway in the past, most recently in DR Congo and Angola.
The route is also served by a rail link running parallel to it for much of its length except between Kafue and Harare, though it too has been damaged in wars and its western half, the Benguela Railway, temporarily stopped operations before resuming in March 2018.
Between Kapiri Mposhi and Kafue in Zambia, the highway shares the route with the Cairo-Cape Town Highway.
When complete the highway will be the southernmost of the Trans-African network's east-west crossings of the continent.