NR2 (Rwanda)

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National Road 2

Kigali–Musanze–Rubavu Road
NR2 highlighted in red
Route information
Length150 km[1] (93 mi)
Major junctions
From NR1 in Kigali
South endN2 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the border with Gisenyi
Location
CountryRwanda
Highway system

The National Road 2 (Kinyarwanda: Umuhanda W'igihugu 2), abbreviated as NR2, is a primary road in Rwanda that connects the metropolitan area of Kigali with the city of Musanze in the Northern Province and then Gisenyi located in the Western Province with the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

History

NR2 passing through the Mahoko Sector within the Rubavu District

During 1974, the International Development Association (IDA) approved the construction of the road connecting Ruhengeri, now known as Musanze, and Gisenyi.[2] The Kigali-Ruhengeri sections of NR2 were originally built in the 1980s by the China Road and Bridge Corporation,[3] and the project was additionally financed by the German government.[4]

In mid-2009, the World Bank approved the investment of approximately 45 billion Rwandan francs for the rehabilitation of the NR2, specifically the sections connecting Ruhengeri to the capital.[5] The project was supported and partially funded by the British government through the World Bank's African Catalytic Fund.[6]

Between 2007 and 2010, the Austrian company “KAB Straßensanierung” was contracted by the Rwandan Ministry of Infrastructure to rehabilitate the Musanze to Gisenyi sections of the NR2.[7] The project was funded by the European Union.[8]

Route description

The NR2 passing through the center of Musanze

Kigali Province

The route starts at the intersection with NR1 located in Kitichyinoni, then goes much further north and crosses the Nyabugogo River and crosses the urban center of Kanyinya.

Northern Province

The NR2 then goes much further north crossing the urban center of Shyorongi and Gako, additionally the national road also connects the Ikirenga Cultural Centre as it passes through this area. Then, NR2 passes through the rural locality of Kirenge, and afterwards it crosses the Urusumorwantonde Creek in order to reach the town of Gasiza.[9]

The NR2 passes around the mountainous area of Gakenke district, in this area landslides have previously been reported that have partially blocked traffic around the national road especially in the rainy season, this has subsequently caused the investment of an alternative route around the rural locality of Burunga located in the Kivuruga Sector.[10]

The National Road then heads much further north and crosses the Mukungwa River. From there, the road goes to the urban center of Musanze, the capital of the province. Subsequently, the road heads further west and crosses the Susa River heading to Gataraga.[11] NR2 then heads to the urban center of Busogo and crosses the Kinoni River to enter the Western Province.[12]

Western Province

The route then passes around the Mount Muhungwe[13] near the rural locality of Bazirete. The route goes much further west to the town of Cyamabuye, in this section the NR2 goes around Lake Nyirakigugu.[14]

Later the national road goes much more to the southwest until reaching Mahoko. Then the NR2 reaches the metropolitan area of Gisenyi until it reaches the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Major intersections

Province (Intara)District (Akarere)kmmiDestinationsNotes
Kigali ProvinceNyarugenge District00.0 NR1Colloquially known as the “Kigali–Muhanga–Huye Road”
Northern ProvinceRulindo District4427 NR19[15]
Musanze District88.154.7 NR17[16]
Western ProvinceNyabihu District11169 NR16[17]The intersection passes around the town of Mukamira
Rubavu District14087 NR11[18]Colloquially known as the “Rubavu-Karongi Road” and alternatively referred to as the “Kivu Belt Road”.
14892 NR18[19]
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

External links

References

  1. ^ "Official Gazette nᵒ 10 of 09/03/2015 (Classification and Naming of Roads)". Rwanda Law Reform Commission (RLRC). 2015. p. 22. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  2. ^ U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, ed. (1975). Mineral industries of Africa (Issue 1). p. 75.
  3. ^ Byumvuhore, Frederic (2017-05-23). "Rwanda: China Road and Bridge Corporation Committed to Timely Completion of Kigali City Roads Expansion Project". The New Times via AllAfrica. Retrieved 2025-01-06. Since 1974, CRBC has been involved in more than 30 major road construction projects including Kigali-Ruhengeri Road
  4. ^ "Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the Rehabilitation of the Kigali - Ruhengeri Road". World Bank. 2011. p. 14. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  5. ^ Musoni, Edwin (2009-08-12). "Rwanda: WB to Provide Rwf 45 Billion for Kigali-Ruhengeri Road". The New Times via AllAfrica. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  6. ^ "$69m for Kigali-Ruhengeri road". The New Times. 2007-10-06. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  7. ^ "Rehabilitation of the Ruhengeri - Gisenyi Road" (PDF). KAB Straßensanierung Gmbh & Co KG Database. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  8. ^ "News: Ruhengeri-Gisenyi road project to boost local business". The New Times. 2009-03-01. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  9. ^ Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority (2020). Topographic map of Rwanda (Map). [1:1,500,000]. Gakenke, Southern Province: Government of the Republic of Rwanda. § Block: 4CSE.
  10. ^ Nkurunziza, Michel (2023-03-07). "Musanze-Kigali highway to get 32 km alternative road". The New Times. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  11. ^ Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority (2020). Topographic map of Rwanda (Map). [1:1,500,000]. Musanze, Northern Province: Government of the Republic of Rwanda. § Block: 4CNW.
  12. ^ Rwanda Land Management and Use Authority (2020). Topographic map of Rwanda (Map). [1:1,500,000]. Volcanoes National Park, Northern/Western Province: Government of the Republic of Rwanda. § Block: 4BNE.
  13. ^ Google (2025-01-07). "Mount Muhungwe (Western Province)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  14. ^ Google (2025-01-07). "Lac Nyirakigugu (Western Province)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  15. ^ Google (2025-01-09). "Driving Directions from Kigali (NR2) to Base (NR19)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  16. ^ Google (2025-01-09). "Driving Directions from Kigali (NR2) to Musanze (NR17)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  17. ^ Google (2025-01-09). "Driving Directions from Kigali (NR2) to Mukamira (NR16)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  18. ^ Google (2025-01-09). "Driving Directions from Kigali (NR2) to Nyundo (NR11)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  19. ^ Google (2025-01-09). "Driving Directions from Kigali (NR2) to Gisenyi (NR18)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2025-01-09.