[1][2][3][4] The highway, which does not meet international design, construction and safety standards has seen a spate of accidents since its opening.

In 1959, the United States offered financial and technical assistance for a "preliminary engineering survey" of the highway.

The survey work began in early 1962 but was only completed in December after having been delayed by the 1962 military coup by the Union Revolutionary Council in March 1962.

The military government initially agreed to the new proposal, and authorized the design of the Yangon–Pegu stretch of the highway in March 1963.

The government received a cement factory in Kyangin as development aid from Japan for the construction of the expressway.

However, it had to export the cement from the new factory and due to the lack of foreign exchange abroad construction was cancelled.

According to exile-run news agencies The Irrawaddy and Mizzima, such failures may result in numerous accidents in the curves.

[23][24] The government has requested assistance from the USAID, JICA and KOICA to upgrade the road and widen it to eight lanes.