Route Nationale 1

Route Nationale 1 (RN1) is the primary highway on the Gulf Coast of Haiti, 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 complimented 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. Port-au-Prince-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. Capital-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 the RN-1 is at Rue Pavée, just north of where it intersects with Route Nationale 2 in Downtown Port-au-Prince. Northbound RN-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-lanes 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 L'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.

North of the junction, Route Nationale 1 passes Johannisse, running along the eastern edge of the Gonaïves floodplain. In this segment, the highway follows slightly higher ground, staying between low hills to the east and seasonal wetlands to the west. These wetlands include marshy areas, drainage channels, and shallow ponds that expand during the rainy season. RN-1 continues north through Bois Blanc, La Croix, and nearby localities, maintaining a generally straight alignment as it skirts the edge of the floodplain rather than crossing it directly. The surrounding land is largely agricultural, with scattered housing concentrated along the road and on higher ground.

Approaching Trois-Ponts, RN-1 begins to curve westward, leaving the wetland zone and entering denser settlement. The road then transitions into an urban arterial as it enters Gonaïves, passing through the eastern neighborhoods before continuing toward the city center as Avenue Amiral Killick.

RN-1 continues west along Avenue Amiral Killick to the rotary (Rond-Point) located near the western edge of the downtown grid. At this rotary, the route turns north onto Avenue Lamartinière. This northbound segment is short and remains within the Place Pétion and central Gonaïves area, where street density and pedestrian activity are highest.

After a short distance on Avenue Lamartinière, RN-1 curves northeast, leaving the downtown core. The route transitions away from the tight urban grid and enters a more linear outbound alignment, passing through the Les Dattes area and adjacent neighborhoods. In this portion, roadside development remains continuous but gradually becomes less dense than in the downtown area.

Continuing northeast, RN-1 reaches its junction with Route Communale 100-K, which provides access to Terre-Neuve and surrounding rural areas outside the city. Traffic patterns shift at this point, with local movements separating from regional through traffic.

Farther along the northeastern edge of the city, RN-1 reaches its junction with Route Nationale 5, which leads north and west toward hillside communities and the Port-de-Paix corridor. Beyond this junction, RN-1 exits the built-up urban area and continues north as an intercity highway toward Ennery and the interior of the North Department.

Gonaives - Cap-Haitien[]

North of Gonaïves, Route Nationale 1 departs the coastal plain and begins a gradual inland climb, leaving the dense urban grid behind and entering a more rugged, transitional landscape. The roadway bends east-northeast through agricultural lowlands and scattered settlements before reaching the foothills that mark the southern edge of the Nord Department.

After crossing into Nord, RN-1 advances through rolling terrain toward Ennery, a hillside commune set above the Artibonite lowlands. In this segment, the highway narrows and becomes noticeably more curvy, threading through valleys and ridgelines as it skirts the outskirts of Ennery rather than passing directly through its town center.

Beyond Ennery, RN-1 continues northward into increasingly mountainous country, entering the Plaisance Arrondissement. The highway winds through forested slopes and cultivated hillsides, passing near rural localities such as Camp Coq and Nan Georges. This portion of the route is characterized by sharp curves, elevation changes, and limited sightlines.

Approaching Plaisance, RN-1 descends slightly and straightens in places as it nears the town. The route serves as the main artery through the commune, linking Plaisance to both the interior highlands and the northern coastal plain. From here, the highway resumes a north-northwest trajectory toward the coast.

North of Plaisance, RN-1 enters the Limbé Arrondissement, descending from the hills into greener lowlands shaped by river valleys and alluvial soils. The road reaches Limbé, where it passes through the urban core and crosses the Rivière du Limbé. In this area, RN-1 supports dense local traffic, commercial activity, and regional connections, with several departmental roads branching toward coastal communities and inland farming zones.

Leaving Limbé, RN-1 continues eastward into the Acul-du-Nord Arrondissement, traversing flat agricultural plains interspersed with villages and irrigation channels. The alignment here becomes more direct, reflecting the flatter terrain. The highway passes near localities such as Vaudreuil and crosses minor waterways, including the Rivière Salée, before approaching the outskirts of Cap-Haïtien’s urban area.

Route Nationale 1, with distance markers (in km)

In its final stretch, RN-1 enters the Cap-Haïtien Arrondissement, transitioning from rural plains into a dense urban corridor. The roadway expands in width and traffic volume as it approaches the city from the southwest, following an inland alignment through dense neighborhoods and functioning as a primary inland approach into the city. Within Cap-Haïtien, RN-1 intersects with Route Nationale 3 and several local streets that distribute traffic across downtown and surrounding districts. RN-1 formally terminates at its junction with RN-3 within the central urban area of Cap-Haïtien, marking the northern end of the corridor.

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

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%.

Economy[]

Details of the principal towns along the RN-1[]

The towns located along Route Nationale No. 1 (RN-1) are among the fastest-growing in Haiti. While much of the country's recent economic expansion has been centered in Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas, the improvements made to RN-1 and ongoing agricultural development projects in the region are expected to help promote more balanced growth between urban and rural populations.

The RN-1 corridor is home to several key industrial facilities that support both the local and national economy. These include a flour mill and a cement plant near Cabaret, a sugar refinery on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, a textile mill in Gonaïves, and a newly operational steel mill also near the capital. These industries benefit directly from the improved transportation infrastructure provided by RN-1.

In addition to industry, RN-1 serves several important agricultural regions. The Artibonite Plain, covering 25,000 hectares (250 km² (or 97 mi²)), is the country’s primary rice-producing area. The ODVA (Organisation du Développement de la Vallée de l’Artibonite) has set ambitious plans to double rice production in this zone. Northeast of Gonaïves, an area of 2,700 hectares is being developed by the ODPG (Organisation du Développement de la Plaine de Gonaïves), which has received significant financial support—US$2 million from the Federal Republic of Germany , US$737,000 from the International Coffee Organization, and US$600,000 from the Haitian Government. A feasibility study on required investments was conducted by the IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture). Further north, the area around the L'Estère River (1,200 hectares) is also targeted for increased agricultural productivity under ODPG’s guidance. Additionally, the region around Plaisance, located between Puilboreau and Camp Coq, is known for the production of coffee and cocoa, as well as a variety of other crops including sweet potatoes, manioc, bananas, and other fruits.

Other important sources of traffic and economic activity along RN-1 include stone quarries near Ennery and within the Artibonite Plain, charcoal kilns near Gonaïves, and livestock farming near the L'Estère River. Furthermore, RN-1 supports growing tourism traffic, with attractive beaches along the first 70 kilometers (43 miles) north of Port-au-Prince and near Cap-Haïtien, scenic mountain views near Limbé, and several sites of historical and cultural interest in the Cap-Haïtien region, such as the Sans-Souci Palace, the Citadelle Laferrière, and the ruins of Pauline Bonaparte’s residence.

Junction list[]

RN-1 Direction: North 🔼
Borough	Municipality	km	Locale	Notes
Port-au-Prince ^{Arrondissement}Ouest Dept.	Port-au-Prince	0.0	Rue Pavée	_JCT
		3.3	Avenue de Soleil
		5.1	Carrefour Drouillard
		5.9	Mairie Cité-Soleil
		8.7	~~Rivière Grise~~	~ ~ ~
Croix-des-Bouquets ^{Arrondissement}	Croix-des-Bouquets	9.3	Carrefour Shada	_JCT
		13.5	Bon Repos	_JCT
		17.2	Soleil 9
		18.0	~~Ravine Ti Penn~~	~ ~
		21.0	Grâce-de-Dieu	Plage Lanmè Frappe
		24.6	Lafiteau
L’Arcahaie ^{Arrondissement}	Cabaret	25.7	Titanyen	_JCT
		29.5	Aubry
		32.9	~~Rivière Bretelle~~	~ ~ ~
		34.0	Ville de Cabaret
		36.9	~~Rivière Manègue~~	_JCT
		40.2	Bercy
		45.4	~~Rivière Joly~~	~ ~ ~
	Arcahaie	46.3	Saint-Médard	_JCT
		49.7	Pont des Matheux
		50.9	Des Vases
		55.4	Marotte	_{Pompe National}
		60.8	~~Ravine Salée~~	~ ~
		62.9	Cariesse Ferry Terminal	Ouanga Bay
		74.4	Ville de Montrouis

RN-1 Direction: North 🔼
Borough	Municipality	km	Locale	Notes
Frontier: Ouest / Artibonite
Saint-Marc ^{Arrondissement} Artibonite Dept.	Saint-Marc	75.9	~~Rivière Montrouis~~	~ ~ ~
		78.0	Délugé
		81.3	Pierre-Payen
		83.0	L’Étang de Bois-Neuf
		86.4	Camp-Marie
		96.1	Centre-ville de Saint-Marc Station PAP
		101.5	Pont-Léocan
		108.5	Pont-Sondé	_JCT
		115.4	Villard
Dessalines ^{Arrondissement}	Dessalines	120.5	Hautes-Feuilles	_JCT
		131.7	Pont de L’Estère
		135.5	Carrefour Bois de Chaux	_JCT
Gonaïves ^{Arrondissement}	Gonaïves	152.7	~~Rivière la Quinte~~	~ ~ ~
		156.1	Centre-ville des Gonaïves Rond-Point
		159.2	Carrefour Turène	_JCT
		160.3	Union des Frères	_JCT
		162.1	Carrefour Joffre	_JCT
	Ennery	165.4	Ville d’Ennery	_JCT

RN-1 Direction: North 🔼
Borough	Municipality	km	Locale	Notes
Frontier: Artibonite / Nord
Plaisance _{Arrondissement} Nord Dept.	Plaisance	194.7	Carrefour Nan Georges	_JCT
Plaisance _{Arrondissement} Nord Dept.	Plaisance	208.6	Ville de Plaisance	_JCT
Limbé ^{Arrondissement}	Limbé	221.5	Camp Coq	Pont Gravé
Limbé ^{Arrondissement}	Limbé	230.7	Ville de Limbé	_JCT
Acul-du-Nord ^{Arrondissement}	Acul-du-Nord	238.3	Route de Camp-Louise	_JCT
		243.7	~~Rivière Salée~~	~ ~ ~
		247.7	Vaudreuil
Cap-Haïtien ^{Arrondissement}	Cap-Haïtien	256.0	Ville du Cap-Haïtien	_JCT

Road condition and maintenance[]

The Gonaïves–Cap-Haïtien section of Route Nationale 1 is approximately 101 kilometers long and consists of a two-lane roadway surfaced with double surface treatment. Major rehabilitation works were carried out in 1990, and large portions of the corridor remain in generally good condition, requiring routine maintenance rather than full reconstruction.

The segment between Gonaïves and the Route d’Ennery interchange (approximately 26 km) is mostly serviceable; however, flooding remains a recurring issue in low-lying areas. Within this section, roughly five kilometers have experienced abnormal surface deterioration, despite the earlier rehabilitation.

From the Route d’Ennery interchange to Limbé (approximately 50 km), the roadway is also in generally good condition, aside from a four-kilometer stretch requiring repair. This segment lacks paved shoulders throughout, and at least one bridge requires structural rehabilitation.

The northernmost section between Limbé and Cap-Haïtien (approximately 25 km) is reported to be in good condition overall. Maintenance and improvement costs for this segment have been estimated at approximately US$20,000 per kilometer.