Roads were constructed to get us from point A to point B. But how far are you willing to go in order to get there? Throughout the world are roads so dangerous by design, that it isn't uncommon for the roads to have claimed lives during construction, or by traversing. Here are some of these dangerous roads.
El Camino de la Muerte
This is a road leading from La Paz to Corico (about 35 miles through the Andes mtns). The official name of the road is the North Yungas Road. Vertical drops can be more than 2000 feet over the narrow strips of dirt. Yearly, 200-300 people will die on this unforgiving road. Throughout the entire stretch of the road, there are no guardrails. It isn't like your usual normal two-lane road. In some cases, the width of the road is no larger than a semi-truck. Since downhill traffic never has the right of way, most accidents occur when cars try to pass one another. The end result will be both vehicles going over the side.
Since the road opened in the 1930's, thousands of lives have been claimed on this road. As if the road was dangerous enough, motorists must deal with flash floods, falling rock, and fog. The rainy season makes the road hazardous to traverse because the mud makes the road extremely slick. In 2006, Bolivia tried to make a safer road through the Andes, but hundreds still drive this road (many thrill seekers seeking adventure). In 2008, a truck hit a cyclist, then plummeted 300 feet over a cliff, killing eight people in the vehicle.
Toughest Six Miles
This stretch of road runs six miles from central Baghdad to the country's main airport. It's one the most dangerous roads, but it serves as a critical supply line into and out of the country. What makes the road so dangerous is the amount of insurgents who line the road with IED's (improvised explosive devices) or by car bombers. Hundreds of people died on this stretch of road. Even the airport highway has been scarred with marks from car bombs and roadside bombs. Soldiers traverse the road in armored vehicles, which usually makes them an easy target for insurgents. Even people who work for Americans become targets. This road is considered so hazardous, that in 2004, a one-way fare in an armored taxi cost $5,000 to the airport.
Karakoram Highway
It is the highest paved international road in the world, climbing to over 16,000 feet. It connects China to Pakistan across the Karakoram Mountains (nearly 1000 miles); which are some of the most unforgiving mountains in the Himalayas. During the 20 years it took to construct, over 400 people perished. The road is carved out of rugged and unstable mountainsides. The road is often times narrow and rolls up and down at many points. What makes the road so dangerous are the many landslides, floods, and mudslides. Most of the year, the road remains closed due to the hazards. Hundreds of lives are lost due to the landslides, whereby you will see a car and then it seems to be gobbled up by the earth. The cars will remain under the mud and rocks, until they are capable of being freed.
Stilwell Road
Also known as the Burma Road, this road was constructed during World War II. It was created to supply the Chinese during the war, through the unknown mountains of Burma. More than 28,000 American soldiers worked on this road, as well as 35,000 ethnic workers. The construction of the road was so dangerous, that it picked up the nickname, a man a mile. Thousands of workers had died before the completion of the road, due to sniper attack, floods, malaria, and cholera. It's also dubbed the 24-zig, because of the treacherous 24 sharp bends that make up part of the road.
Baguio-Bontoc Road
This dilapidated road has claimed lives because of the narrow, dangerous curves. It's barely a two-lane road. It runs for about 150 miles through Baguio to Sagada in the Philippines. There are drops of up to a 1000 feet with no guardrails. Landslides, mudslides, and heavy rains make this road a difficult one to travel. The road is often closed down due to landslides.
