A1 highway (Lithuania)

The A1 highway is a highway in Lithuania. It connects the capital city of Vilnius with the port city of Klaipėda, via the second largest city, Kaunas. Its length is over 300 kilometres (190 mi), making it the longest highway route in Lithuania.

A1
Vilnius-Kaunas-Klaipėda Highway
Route information
Part of E28 E67 E85
Length	311.40 km (193.49 mi)
Existed	1987–present
Major junctions
West end	Vilnius
	A4 A16 A4 and A16 in Vilnius A6 A6 in Kaunas A5 A5 in Kaunas A8 A8 near Sitkūnai A12 A12 near Kryžkalnis A13 A13 near Klaipėda
East end	Klaipėda
Location
Major cities	Grigiškės, Vievis, Elektrėnai, Kaišiadorys, Kaunas, Raseiniai, Klaipėda
Highway system
Lithuanian road system International E-road network

Highway A1 near Kaunas

Highway junction, that connects A1, A13 and 141 near Klaipėda. A1 is straight bridge in distance

The A1 highway has four lanes (two lanes each way) separated by grass line and safety rails. Most of the section from Kaunas to Klaipėda has motorway status with 130 km/h speed limit during summer and 110 km/h during winter. The section from Kaunas to Vilnius has expressway status with 120 km/h speed limit during summer and 110 km/h during winter. Section in Vievis, where speed all-year round is 100 km/h and don't have status of an expressway.

Its European route code is E85 and for a short while E67 (near Kaunas).

The Vilnius–Kaunas highway was completed in 1970 and Kaunas–Klaipėda was completed in 1987.[1] It replaced the first 40 kilometers of the 1930s-built Samogitian Highway stretching from Kaunas.

There are plans to raise speed limit between Kaunas and Vilnius. To meet the criteria, most acceleration and deceleration lanes near junctions will be extended and will reach 250 m length, reconstruction of guard-rails, some remaining bus stops will be constructed at their designated stopping areas and will be separated from main road, pedestrian underpasses will be built and it will also include building fences from wild animals where is not built yet.[2]

Route near Kaunas (between junctions A5 and A6) handle highest AADT of all non-urban roads, that are not considered city streets, in Lithuania. There are plans to built four carriageways in this section: two inner carriageways will serve as transit lanes between Via Baltica and A6, while remaining carriageways will serve as collector lanes for city traffic.[3]