A section of the Mandalay–Myitkyina Highway, a vital route linking central and northern Myanmar, was temporarily closed by the People’s Defence Force (PDF) from mid-December and began reopening on January 7.

On December 18, the junta carried out an airstrike on the Myaynisho intersection near Khin-U Town in Sagaing Region along the highway linking Mandalay, the capital of Mandalay Region, and Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State. Following the attack, the PDF temporarily closed a section of the road as the security situation deteriorated.

Starting January 7, the section of the highway between Ohntaw and Shwebo towns in Sagaing Region has reopened to normal traffic from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily, according to the Shwebo PDF.

However, some sections of the Mandalay–Myitkyina Road remain closed, forcing travelers to use bypass routes linked to the main highway, which typically take three days to travel from Mandalay to Myitkyina and two days for the return journey.

“The entire main highway cannot be used yet, and in some areas, travel must be done via alternate routes. It is difficult to say exactly where these detours will be required. The journey from Mandalay to Myitkyina usually takes about three days, while the return trip is faster and can be completed in around two days,” said a traveler.

In November 2025, the junta launched an offensive against the PDF, triggering clashes that left several sections of the Mandalay–Myitkyina Road impassable.

Sections of the Mandalay–Myitkyina Road, a key route linking northern Sagaing Region and Kachin State, have been frequently closed due to fighting between the junta and the PDF since the 2021 coup.