Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway

Infobox_road
highway_name = Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway (東海北陸自動車道)
marker_



length = 185 km
established = 1986 [cite web| url= http://www.tokai-kansen.go.jp/naruhodo/jisendo/2006_07/p03_04.html | title= History of the Expressway Network in the Greater Nagoya Area |author= Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport | accessdate= 2008-04-17 ]
first_open =
starting_terminus = Ichinomiya Junction in Ichinomiya, Aichi

cities = Kakamigahara, Gifu, Seki, Gujō, Takayama, Hida, Nanto, Tonami
ending_terminus = Oyabe-Tonami Junction in Oyabe and Tonami, Toyama
The nihongo|Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway|東海北陸自動車道|Tōkaihokuriku Jidōsha-dō is a national expressway in the Chūbu region on the island of Honshū in Japan. It is managed by Central Nippon Expressway Company.

Overview

Tōkai and Hokuriku are the names of the two regions of Japan that are linked by the expressway.

The expressway begins at a junction with the Meishin Expressway to the northwest of the Nagoya urban area and follows a northerly course into Gifu Prefecture, passing the capital Gifu and heading further north into the mountainous Hida region. The expressway also passes by Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites straddling the border between Gifu Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture. The expressway continues north through western Toyama Prefecture to its terminus at a junction with the Hokuriku Expressway and the Nōetsu Expressway.

The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 1986. The final section of the expressway (25 km between Hida-Kiyomi Interchange and Shirakawagō Interchange) was opened on July 5, 2008.cite web| url= http://www.tokai-hokuriku.com/open/ | title= Opening of Completed Expressway |author= Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway Official Website | accessdate= 2008-07-07 ] A major component of this section is the Hida Tunnel, the second longest road tunnel in Japan [cite web| url= http://www.tokai-kansen.go.jp/naruhodo/jisendo/2006_07/p03_04.html | title= 2005 Activity Report |author= Japan Tunnelling Association | accessdate= 2008-04-18 ] after the Kan-Etsu Tunnel. A total of 1.22 trillion yen was spent on planning and construction of the expressway over 36 years. [cite web| url= http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080705p2a00m0na019000c.html | title= 36 years and 1.22 trillion yen later, Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway finally opens |author= Mainichi Daily News, July 5, 2008 | accessdate= 2008-07-07 ]

The expressway is 4 lanes from Ichinomiya Junction to Fukubegatake Parking Area, and 2 lanes on all other sections. Construction to expand the route to 4 lanes is currently underway on the section between Fukubegatake Parking Area and Shirotori Interchange. [cite web| url= http://www.c-nexco.co.jp/english/pdf/nexco_english.pdf | title= NEXCO-Central Business Outline | accessdate= 2008-04-17 | format=pdf] The speed limit is 80 km/h on 4-laned sections and 70 km/h on 2-laned sections. ]

Features

At 1,086 meters, Matsunoki Pass between Shōkawa Interchange and Hida-Kiyomi Interchange is the highest point in the national expressway network. [cite web| url= http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/pref/gib/5_no1/0010/5007.htm | title= Gifu Internet Broadcast Station | author= Gifu Prefectural Government | accessdate= 2008-04-18 ] A parking area is planned to open at this point.

There are a total of 54 tunnels either completed or under constrction. After the Hida Tunnel, the Hakamagoshi Tunnel (between Fukumitsu Interchange and Gokayama Interchange) is the longest. Trucks carrying hazardous materials are forbidden from using the tunnel and must use alternate routes.

The piers on the Washimi Bridge (between Shōkawa Interchange and Takasu Interchange) are the tallest in Japan, at 118 m. [cite web| url= http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/pref/gib/5_no1/0003/5002.htm | title= Gifu Internet Broadcast Station | author= Gifu Prefectural Government | accessdate= 2008-04-18 ]

List of interchanges and features

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS - bus stop, TN - tunnel, BR - bridge

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.c-nexco.co.jp/english/ Central Nippon Expressway Company]
*ja icon [http://www.tokai-hokuriku.com/ Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway Official Website]