Sasson Expressway

Infobox_road
highway_name = Sasson Expressway (札樽自動車道)
length = 38.3 km [cite web| url= http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/more_expressway/data/ | title= E-NEXCO Expressway Data | accessdate= 2008-04-16 ]
established = 1971
first_open =
starting_terminus = Sapporo Junction in Sapporo

ending_terminus = Otaru Interchange in Otaru, Hokkaidō

Hokkaido Prefectural Route 17The nihongo|Sasson Expressway|札樽自動車道|Sasson Jidōshadō is a 4-laned national expressway in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is operated by the East Nippon Expressway Company.

Naming

The name Sasson is a kanji acronym of two characters. The first character represents nihongo|Sapporo|札幌 and the second represents nihongo|Otaru|小樽, which are the two cities connected by the expressway.

Officially the expressway is a part of the Hokkaidō Ōdan Expressway Nemuro Route and Abashiri Route. [cite web| url= http://www.mlit.go.jp/road/ir/ir-yosan/h20/s07.pdf | title= High Standard Trunk Road Map |author= Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport | accessdate= 2008-04-13 | format=pdf]

Overview

The first section of the expressway opened in 1971 with 2 lanes ahead of the 1972 Winter Olympics. Expansion to 4 lanes was completed in 1974.cite web| url= http://www.city.sapporo.jp/kensetsu/stn/doroshiryo/rekishi_nenpyo.html | title= Sapporo Road Construction History | accessdate= 2008-04-15 ] The entire route was completed in 1992 with a connection to the Hokkaidō Expressway. [cite web| url= http://www.city.otaru.hokkaido.jp/soumu/koho/ayumi.htm | title= History of Otaru City | accessdate= 2008-04-15 ]

The speed limit is 80 km/h along the entire route.

The section from Sapporo-nishi Interchange through Sapporo Junction to Sapporo-minami Interchange on the Hokkaidō Expressway is built to an urban expressway standard and tolls are charged at a flat rate. As of March 2008 the toll on this section is 400 yen for regular passenger cars. Tolls on all other sections of the expressway are assessed according to distance travelled in the same manner as most other national expressways. [cite web| url= http://www.driveplaza.com/dp/SearchTop#search_map | title= E-NEXCO Drive Plaza Route Search | accessdate= 2008-04-15 ]

List of interchanges and features

* IC - interchange, JCT - junction, PA - parking area, BS - bus stop, TN - tunnel, BR - bridge, TB - toll gate

References

External links

*ja icon [http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/ East Nippon Expressway Company]