The road system, until independence, was confined to the Ayeyarwaddy and Sittang valleys, duplicating the railway route. Government policy is to improve and extend existing highways and to construct new ones. There were originally three international roads in use during World War II—the “Burma Road” from Lashio to Kunming in China; the Stillwell, or Ledo, Road between Myitkyina and Ledo in India; and the road between Keng Tung in the southeastern Shan Plateau and northern Thailand. These roads subsequently became neglected but more recently were rebuilt and extended.

At present the road system although extensive, is in many areas neglected. Monsoon rains cause much damage to bituminised roads throughout the country and unmade roads at times are impassable.