- Jōshin-etsu Expressway
Infobox_road
highway_name = Jōshin-etsu Expressway (上信越自動車道)
marker_
length = 204.9 km [cite web| url= http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/kyoku/road/jikoku/station/jousinetu.html | title= Road Timetable |author= Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kanto Regional Development Bureau | accessdate= 2008-04-16 ]
established = 1980 [cite web| url= http://www2.tokai.or.jp/stt/road/expwyopn.html | title= Expressway Opening Dates | accessdate= 2008-04-16 ]
first_open =
starting_terminus =Fujioka Junction inFujioka, Gunma
cities = Tomioka, Annaka, Saku, Komoro, Ueda, Chikuma, Nagano, Nakano, Myōkō
ending_terminus =Jōetsu Junction inJōetsu, Niigata
The nihongo|Jōshin-etsu Expressway|上信越自動車道|Jōshin-etsu Jidōsha-dō is a national expressway inJapan . It is owned and operated byEast Nippon Expressway Company .Naming
nihongo|Jōshin-etsu|上信越 is a
kanji acronym consisting of 3 characters, each representing the former names of the prefectures that the route traverses. nihongo|Kōzuke Province |上野国 consists of present-dayGunma Prefecture , nihongo|Shinano Province |信濃国 consists of present-dayNagano Prefecture , and nihongo|Echigo Province |越後国 consists of present-dayNiigata Prefecture .Officially, the expressway is referred to as the Kan-Etsu Expressway Jōetsu Route. This designation consists of the entire Jōshin-etsu Expressway as well as the
Kan-Etsu Expressway beyond Fujioka Junction toNerima Interchange (concurrent with the Kan-Etsu Expressway Niigata 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 expressway begins at a junction with the Kan-Etsu Expressway in southern Gunma Prefecture and heads west, paralleling National Route 254 until Shimonita. From here the route branches north, passing
Mount Myōgi , then heads west once more from Annaka. The route parallels National Route 18 from this point until the terminus. The expressway then follows a winding route through the mountainous area separating Gunma and Nagano Prefectures. FromSaku, Nagano the route follows a northwesterly course, passingMount Asama , until it reaches a junction with theNagano Expressway near the city of Nagano. The route then heads north, following the east bank of theChikuma River , before heading into the mountainous region separating Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. The expressway continues north through Niigata Prefecture, passingMount Myōkō , and eventually terminating at a junction with theHokuriku Expressway in Jōetsu near theJapan Sea coastline.The first section was completed in 1980 and the entire route was completed in 1999. [cite web| url= http://www.dokokyo.or.jp/data/nenpyo/1999.htm | title= Construction History of Japan, 1999 |author= Japan Civil Engineering Contractors Association | accessdate= 2008-04-16] The expressway is 4 lanes from Fujioka Junction to
Toyota-Iiyama Interchange . The remaining section from Toyota-Iiyama Interchange to Jōetsu Junction is 2 lanes, however construction is underway on the section from Toyota-Iiyama Interchange toShinanomachi Interchange to increase the capacity to 4 lanes. It is expected to be completed in 2009. [cite web| url= http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/open_schedule/kanto/ | title= E-NEXCO Opening Schedule | accessdate= 2008-04-15 ]List of interchanges and features
* IC - interchange, SIC -
smart interchange , JCT - junction, SA -service area , PA -parking area , BS -bus stop , CB -snow chains , TN -tunnel , BR -bridge There are also 2 snow chain changing areas between Toyota-Iiyama Interchange and Kurohime-Nojiriko Parking Area, and 1 area between Sakaki Interchange and Ueda-Sugadaira Interchange (Fujioka-bound only).
References
External links
*ja icon [http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/ East Nippon Expressway Company]
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