Myanmar's 20-Lane Road to Nowhere

Constructed at great expense over the past decade, Myanmar's planned capital city of Naypyidaw boasts an empty 20-lane stretch of road. The city's real purpose may be to discourage regime change.

1 minute read

May 3, 2016, 9:00 AM PDT

By Philip Rojc @PhilipRojc


Naypyidaw

Traffic isn't a problem in Naypyidaw. | lirneasia / Flickr

Myanmar's own "road to nowhere" was likely constructed for very different reasons than outsized, underutilized infrastructure elsewhere. The country's planned capital city, Naypyidaw, was built from nothing under the regime of former military leader Than Shwe. "The reasons the government chose to relocate the capital from Rangoon (the previous capital) to a patch of previously uninhabited jungle 200 miles north remains [sic] equally unclear."

Some have theorized that Naypyidaw's location and layout are a means to prevent violent regime change. "Some reports suggest that the nervous president overseeing the construction of this new capital [...] insisted on the giant boulevard so that it could act as a runway for planes in case of riots." By design, the city lacks the wide public squares that often act as spatial catalysts for revolutions and popular movements. 

Naypyidaw looks impressive, but its wide thoroughfares are often completely empty of traffic. The place serves as an extreme example of how politics can dictate a city's shape.

Thursday, April 21, 2016 in Atlas Obscura

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

July 2 - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

July 2 - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square