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Route Nationale 1 (RN1) is the main Interdepartmental Highway on the Gulf Coast of Haiti, running largely parallel to the Golfe de la Gonâve coast, serving areas from Port-au-Prince to Cap-Haïtien. In general, RN-1 serves the major cities of the seaboard and metropolitan areas such as Milot, L'Estere, and Gonaïves in the north, down to the Artibonite Plain, and Saint-Marc, Montrouis, The Arcadian Coast, and Cabaret further south. The route follows a more inland route between Milot and Gonaïves, notably bypassing the "Far West" metropolitan areas of Gros-Morne and Port-de-Paix, which require connections through other Departmental Highways.

About[]

A substantial part of the economic activity in Haiti is centered around Port-au-Prince the capital and along Route Nationale 1, which connects the capital with Cap-Haïtien, the second largest city in the country; specifically RN1 serves the Artibonite Plain (the richest agricultural area in Haiti), the Gonaïves Plain and the Northern Plain, south of Cap-Haïtien.

RN1 is one of the oldest routes of Haiti's Highway System, with its span complimemted by a new bridge over the Artibonite River, the largest waterway on this route.

A crossing over the Artibonite is crucial for the northern half of the country since RN-1 is currently the main practicable land access between the northern part and the capital.

Route description[]

For the purpose of analysis, Route National 1 has been divided into four sections as follows:

1. Pont Rouge-Bon Repos (13.6 km)

2. Bon Repos-Sortie Saint Marc (88 km)

3. Saint Marc-Gonaives (50 km)

4. Gonaives-Cap-Haïtien (101 km)


1. Pont Rouge-Gonaïves (152 km, asphalt concrete)

Route 1 is a mostly a two-lane undivided highway, with several highly congested, four-lane sections in populated areas as well as a high volume of pedestrians. The south end of Route Nationale 1 is at Rue Pavée, just north of where it intersects with Route Nationale 2 in Downtown Port-au-Prince. Northbound Route Nationale 1 initially heads north towards the community of Bon-Repos before turning west to run along the north shore of Port-au-Prince Bay. The first 8 km of this road (Pont Rouge-Y intersection with Route Nationale 3) can be widened to 4 lanes as the required right-of-way appears to be there. This section shows wear. Lane painting and on-street parking restrictions along this section would increase the use of the existing capacity of some sections which are already 4-lane wide. From there, Route Nationale 1 turns west, running for several miles along a straightaway, later curving toward the outskirt villages of Titanyen and Cabaret. Route Nationale 1 crosses the Bretelle River in Cabaret, near where it intersects it Route 115, heading out toward Arcahaie. North of Arcahie, the route heads northwest towards Saint-Marc, passing through the southern suburbs of the city, including Montrouis, Délugé, Camp-Mary, and Bois-Neuf. After crossing the Saint-Marc River, Route 1 then goes through the urban area and Downtown before crossing into Saint-Marc's northerly rural sections. In Saint-Marc proper, Route Nationale 1 uses Rue Louverture, then shifts via the curve at Rue Clément-Lanier, heading east until the township of Pont-Sondé, meeting Route 11. Route Nationale 1 crosses the Pont-Sondé Bridge over the Artibonite River into the Borough of Dessalines. It runs along a series of waterways, most notably the Villars Canal (in Dessalines) and Estère River for a brief duration in L'Estère's urban section. Leaving the urban area, the two-lane Route Nationale 1 continues to a traffic island located at a y-intersection called Carrefour Bois de Chaux to connect to Route 107.

Gonaïves-Cap-Haitien (101 km, Double Surface Treatment) two lanes. Rehabilitation works done in 1990. Most of the section is in good condition requiring only periodic maintenance and the improvement of shoulders in some sections. Flooding is a problem in the section Gonaïves-Intersection Route d'Ennery (26 km). Also there are 5 km in this section that have experienced abnormal deterioration considering the road was rehabilitated in 1990.

The section Intersection Route d'Ennery-Limbe (50 km), is in good condition except for 4 km but lacks shoulders. Also, work needs to be done on a bridge.

The section Limbe-Cap-Haïtien (25 km) is in good condition. Estimated cost for this section is an average expenditure of US$ 20,000/km.

Economy[]

Details of the principal towns along the RN-1

These towns are among the fastest growing in Haiti. Recent economic expansion has, to a large degree, been concentrated in Port-au-Prince and its environs. The reduced cost of transportation resulting from improvement of the RN-1 and the agricultural development schemes presently being implemented there may contribute to more balanced growth of urban and rural population.

The main industries along the RN-1 are: (a) a flour mill near Duvalierville (b) a cement plant, also near Duvalierville (c) a sugar refinery on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince (d) a textile mill at Gonaïves and (e) a steel mill brought into production, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.

The RN-1 serves the following important agricultural areas:

(a) the Artibonite Plain (25,000 ha), the main rice-producing area in Haiti. The Organisation du Development de la Vallee d'Artibonite (ODVA) has made plans to double production;

(b) the area northeast of Gonaïves (2,700 ha). The Organisation du Developpement de la Plaine de Gonaives (ODPG) has received US$2 million equivalent from the Federal Republic of Germany, US$737,000 from the International Coffee Organization and US$600,000 from the Haitian Government to increase agricultural production in this area. A feasibility study has been made of the required investments by the Institut Interamericain des Sciences Agricoles de L'OEA (IICA).

(c) The area north of the Estere River (1,200 ha). ODPG has made plans to increase agricultural production in this area significantly

(d) the area around Plaisance (between Puilboreau and Camp Coq) where the primary products are coffee and cocoa.

Additional products grown in this area are sweet potatoes, manioc, bananas and other fruits.

Other traffic generators along the RN-1 include quarries near Ennery and in the Artibonite Plain, charcoal kilns near Gonaïves, and livestock raising near the Estere River. Additionally, the beaches along the first 70 km out of Port-au-Prince and those near Cap-Haïtien, the panoramic views in the mountains near Limbé and the places of historical interest in the Cap-Haïtien region (San Souci Palace, Laferriere Citadel and the ruins of the house of Pauline Bonaparte) are increasingly generating tourist traffic.

Route Nationale 1 map

Route Nationale 1, with distance markers (in km)

RN1 elevation

Route Nationale Elevation map, showing the highest point along the route to be at the border of Nord and Artibonite departments.



ArC 101118

Route Nationale 1 in Arcahaie

The largest climb is at the 156 km to 176 km marker. It is a climb that lasts 20 km and rises from 183 meters to 916 meters (599 ft to 3006 ft) in the span of 20 km (12 miles), resulting in a grade of 3.7%.

Route Nationale 1[]

START
mi. km. jct
OU
Port-au-Prince Arrondissement
RN2 Michael Vedrine 610 La Ville
1re Turgeau Portail Saint-Joseph
1re Varreux
2e Varreux
link = Route Nationale 8RN3 Michael Vedrine 610 1re Varreux Carrefour Marin
Bon Repos
RN-1430

RN-1; Vintage photo in Port-au-Prince

C-D-B Arrondissement
10e Des Orangers Village Grace de Dieu
Sous Piyant

RN-1 near Village Grace de Dieu

Archaie Arrondissement
114 Michael Vedrine 625
 
3e Source Matelas Titanyen
Aubry
115 625 Michael Vedrine
 
1re Boucassin V. de la Transformation
Carrefour Damier
Ville de Cabaret
Guiton
2e Boucassin Lévêque
Bercy
Vignier
Robert
1re Boucassin Saint-Medard
Moulin
Saintard
Williamson
2e Fonds-Baptiste Sisal
Obama Beach
Kaliko Beach
4e Montrouis Wahoo Bay Beach
Ouanga Bay Beach
Carièsse Ferry Terminal
Trou Baguette
Trou Forban
Fond-Lachaux
Qtr. de Montrouis
Titanyen 101118a

RN-1 in Titanyen

AR
Saint-Marc Arrondissement
1re Délugé Montrouis
Délugé
2e Bois Neuf Pierre-Payen
Bois Neuf
Camp-Marie
Jeanton
Frécineau
Ville de Saint-Marc
Michael Vedrine 708 Route 11 5e Bocozelle Pont Léocan
Terre Noire
Pont-Sondé
Aap507

RN-1 near Anse-a-Pirogue

Dessalines Arrondissement
1re Villars Saly-Foudre
Loursin
Cadeu
Fougère
Villard
2e Fossé-Naboth Boudet Ti Place
Lagon Zérine
Painson
Bois Gerard
Ferme de Bois Dehors
Gonaïves Arrondissement
Ville de l'Estère
RD 107 Michael Vedrine 605ARD 112 Michael Vedrine 625 1re Lacroix-Perisse Carrefour Bois-de-Chaux
2e Petites-Desdunes Johanisse
Estrella
1re Lacroix-Perisse Manyan
Bois Blanc
La Croix
1re Pont Tamarin Trois-Ponts
751px-MA Route 102 svgRC 100K Michael Vedrine 605a Ville des Gonaïves Les Dattes
Detour Labonge
Carrefour Turène
Carrefour Joffre
RN5 Michael Vedrine 610 4e Poteau Brésson
André
Poteau
La Coupe
2e Passe Reine /
3e Bois Neuf
Sterlin
Du Fossé
Plaine Rollin
Passe Reine
Ministre
Nan Bambou
Mochoquette
103 Michael Vedrine BostonMichael Vedrine 304 121918 Ville d'Ennery Marie Michel Resto
4e Puilboreau Nan Domingue
Carrefour Nan Georges
NO
Plaisance Arrondissement
Route 109 Michael Vedrine 625 8e Grande Rivière Vieux-Dépot
Ti Place
Fond Grande Rivière
Carrefour Bois d'Homme
Galbo
Demoitier
Bernard
Chatard
Bélazaire
1re Lacroix-Perisse Carrefour Bois-de-Chaux
RD116 Michael Vedrine 607 Ville de Plaisance Carrefour Bois-de-Chaux
7e Bassin La Pate
2e Champagne La Sufriere
Limbé Arrondissement
6e Ilot-à-Corne
3e Camp Coq Banc-a-la-Selle
Camp Coq
4e Soufrière Mouchette
2e Chabotte Couza
La Croix
Michael Vedrine 104 625 Ville de Limbé
Route 110 Michael Vedrine 1re Haut Limbé Lot Bo Pont
Bon Temps Pas Paradis
Dirisie
Lombard
Paris
CampCoqa11019

Limbé River near Camp Coq

L'Acul-du-Nord Arrondissement
1re Camp-Louise Bord-de-Mer-de-Camp-Louise
2e Bas-De-L'acul Cercaville
1re Morne Rouge Moustique
Vaudreuil
Cap-Haïtien Arrondissement
2e Haut-du-Cap Monbin Lataye
Bas de Vertières
Cité Champin
Cité Chauvel
Camford
Cité du Peuple
RN6 Michael Vedrine 610 Ville du Cap-Haïtien
END


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