"النقل الآلي الطرق في بلاد فارس. المجلد ١ - الطرق الرئيسية. ١٩٤٢" [ظ‎‎١‎٧‎٥] (٤٩٨/٣٥٥)

ROUTE IX—SECTION B.
SHAHRUD to TEHRAN.
Distance —255 miles.
No. of stages. —18.
Reference sheets. —15-P, 15-L, 16-1, 16-E, I6-A. 9-M.
GENERAL REPORT.
1. General Direction. —S. W. from SHAHRUD to SAM-
NAN (115 miles) and west from SAMNAN to TEHRAN (140
miles).
2. Classification. —B. 1 and in places C. 1.
3. Surface and Grading. —This road is soled with rough
hewn stone to depth of 4 inches and metalled with shingle to a
depth of 4 inches. The foundation consists of the hard soil of the
Iranian plateau. It is cambered and has a ditch on either side to
carry off surface water. In some places these ditches serve
a secondary purpose, i.e., that of irrigation channels conducting a
stream parallel to the road till a shallow depression permits it to
cross the road by an unpaved Irish bridge. When first put down
the shingle is rolled in with a steam or man drawn roller except in
the mountainous parts where rammers are used but for purposes
of subsequent repair the shingle is poured on loose by road gangs.
Thus, when badly in need of repair the Iranian road may present
a badly rutted appearance owing to the shingle having been piled
up in the centre or the sides by the action of the wheels of traffic.
4. Character of Adjacent Country. —This section divides
itself into four clearly defined portions, viz, the SHAHRUD—
DAM iHAN plain of 70 miles, a more or less mountainous strip
separating that plain and the SAMNAN plain 38 miles in length,
the SAMNAN plain of 17 miles and the intensely mountainous
portion from there to TEHRAN consisting of 130 miles. In the
two mountainous portions th^ road is commanded from hills on
the north and south for almost its entire length and is suitable
for air attack as there are few places where transport can get off
the road.
5. Climatic Effects. —In summer temperature of 110° may
be experienced on the DAMGHAN and SAMNAN plains. In
the mountainous portions it is cooler. The heat to be met with
on the old road via VERA MIN on the edge of the KAVIR was
reasons for the construction of the new road via
FIRUZKUH.
In winter, between December and February the road is
liable to be blocked periodically by snow for 4 or 5 days at a tima
on the two passes east and west of FIRUZKUH and also the three
high portions between the NIMRUD river and TEHRAN (it wa s