Editing Transport in Turkmenistan (section)

== Roadways ==
{{main|M37 highway (Turkmenistan)}}

Prior to the 1917 [[Russian Revolution]] only three automobiles existed in Turkmenistan, all of them foreign models in Ashgabat. No automobile roads existed between settlements. After the revolution, Soviet authorities graded dirt roads to connect [[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]] and Kushky ([[Serhetabat]]), [[Tejen]] and [[Sarahs]], Kyzyl-Arvat ([[Serdar (city)|Serdar]]) with Garrygala ([[Magtymguly]]) and Chekishler, i.e., with important border crossings.  In 1887-1888 the Gaudan Highway ({{langx|ru|Гауданское шоссе}}) was built between Ashgabat and the Persian border at Gaudan Pass, and Persian authorities extended it to [[Mashad]], allowing for easier commercial relations.  Municipal bus service began in Ashgabat in 1925 with five routes, and taxicab service began in 1938 with five vehicles. The road network was extended in the 1970s with construction of republic-level highways connecting Ashgabat and Kazanjik ([[Bereket]]), Ashgabat and [[Bayramaly]], Nebit Dag ([[Balkanabat]]) and Krasnovodsk ([[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]]), Chardzhou ([[Türkmenabat]]) and [[Kerki]], and Mary and Kushka ([[Serhetabat]]).<ref name=encyc3>{{cite encyclopedia
  | encyclopedia = Туркменская ССР
  | title = Транспорт / Железнодорожный транспорт
  | trans-title = Transport / Rail transport
  | language = Russian
  | year = 1984
  | publisher = Chuvash Obkom CPSU
  | pages = 236–237
}}</ref> As of 2001 Turkmenistan had an estimated 22,000 kilometers of roads, about 18,000 kilometers of which were paved.<ref name=":12" />

The primary west-east motor route is the [[M37 highway (Turkmenistan)|M37]] highway linking the [[Turkmenbashi International Seaport|Turkmenbashy International Seaport]] to the [[Farap]] border crossing via Ashgabat, Mary, and Turkmenabat.  The primary north-south route is the Ashgabat-Dashoguz Automobile Road ({{langx|tk|Aşgabat-Daşoguz awtomobil ýoly}}), built in the 2000s. Major international routes include [[European route E003]], [[European route E60]], [[European route E121]], and Asian Highway (AH) routes AH5, AH70, AH75, AH77, and AH78.<ref name=ah>{{cite web|url=http://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/Turkmenistan.xls|title=Asian Highway Database|publisher=United Nations}}</ref><ref name=":12" />

A new toll motorway is under construction between Ashgabat and Turkmenabat by “Türkmen Awtoban” company, which was originally scheduled to construct the 600-km highway in three phases: [[Ashgabat]]-[[Tejen]] by December 2020, [[Tejen]]-[[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]] by December 2022 and Mary-[[Türkmenabat|Turkmenabat]] by December 2023. As a result of delays due to financial shortfalls, the Ashgabat-Tejen phase is now scheduled for completion in September 2021.<ref name=awtoban2>{{cite news|url=https://turkmen.news/lenta/trassa-turkmenistan-stroitelstvo/|title= Участок трассы Ашхабад — Туркменабад до Теджена пообещали сдать в эксплуатацию в текущем году|date=March 29, 2021|language=Russian|publisher=Turkmen.News}}</ref>  A sister project to link [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]] and Ashgabat was suspended when the Turkish contractor, [[Polimeks]], walked away from the project, reportedly because of non-payment.<ref name=doc>{{cite web|url=https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/turkmenistan-transportation|title=Turkmenistan Country Commercial Guide: Transportation|publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce|date=15 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=abandon>{{citation |url=https://tm.hronikatm.com/2018/02/polimex-turkmenbasydaky-awtoban-gurlusygyny-bes-etdi-kompaniyanyn-baslygy-turkmenistany-terk-etdi/ |title="Polimex" Türkmenbaşydaky awtoban gurluşygyny bes etdi, kompaniýanyň başlygy Türkmenistany terk etdi |publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan |date=27 February 2018 |language=tk |trans-title="Polimex" stopped construction of the highway to Turkmenbashy, the head of the company left Turkmenistan }}</ref>

As of 29 January 2019, the Turkmen Automobile Roads state concern ({{langx|tk|Türkmenawtoýollary}}) was subordinated by presidential decree to the Ministry of Construction and Architecture, and responsibility for road construction and maintenance was shifted to provincial and municipal governments.<ref name=decree>{{cite news|url=https://www.parahat.info/edict/1627|title=УКАЗ Президента Туркменистана О преобразовании Государственного концерна "Türkmenawtoýollary"|date=29 January 2019|publisher=parahat.info|language=Russian}}</ref><ref name=roads>{{cite news|url=https://orient.tm/stroitelstvo-avtodorog-v-turkmenis/|title=Строительство автодорог в Туркменистане переходит в ведение городских и региональных властей|date=29 January 2019|language=Russian|publisher=Orient}}</ref> Operation of motor coaches (buses) and taxicabs is the responsibility of the Automobile Services Agency ({{langx|tk|Türkmenawtoulaglary Agentligi}}) of the Ministry of Industry and Communication.<ref name=awtoulag>{{cite web|url=https://awtoulag.gov.tm/en/site/a/index|title=Türkmenawtoulaglary Agentligi}}</ref>

Turkmenistan has one of the lowest gasoline prices in the world.  In 2011 95-octane gasoline was priced at $0.72 per gallon ($0.19 per liter).<ref>{{cite journal| url = http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2011/0913/World-s-cheapest-gas-Top-5-countries/Turkmenistan-0.72-per-gallon-0.19-per-liter| title = Turkmenistan- $0.72 per gallon ($0.19 per liter) - CSMonitor.com| journal = [[The Christian Science Monitor]]}} </ref> As of March 2021, the state-controlled price was 1.50 [[Turkmenistani manat|manat]] per liter, or U.S. 43¢ per liter ($1.62 per gallon).<ref name=gasoline>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Turkmenistan/gasoline_prices/|title=Turkmenistan Gasoline prices, liter, 15-Mar-2021|publisher=Global Petrol Prices.com}}</ref>