Nikkō Utsunomiya Road

Nikkō Utsunomiya Road
日光宇都宮道路
Route information
Length:	30.7 mi[1] (49.4 km)
Existed:	1976[1] – present
Major junctions
From:	Utsunomiya Interchange in Utsunomiya, Tochigi National Route 119 Tōhoku Expressway
To:	'Kiyotaki Interchange in Nikkō, Tochigi National Route 120
Highway system
National highways of Japan Expressways of Japan

The Nikkō Utsunomiya Road (日光宇都宮道路, Nikkō Utsunomiya Dōro^?) is a toll road in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

Overview

The road is the main access route for Nikkō, a popular getaway for tourists in the north of Tochigi. It connects directly to the Tōhoku Expressway which leads to the greater Tokyo area.

The road is officially designated as a bypass for National Route 119 (Utsunomiya Interchange to Nikkō Interchange) and National Route 120 (Nikkō Interchange to Kiyotaki Interchange). The road is designated for motor vehicles only (自動車専用道路, Jidōsha Senyō Dōro^?) (motor vehicles must have a displacement of at least 125 cc). The design standard of the road is similar to most national expressways in Japan.

The first section of the road was opened to traffic in 1976 and the entire route was completed in 1981.^[1] It was originally built and managed by Japan Highway Public Corporation, however ownership was transferred to Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation in 2005.^[2] Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) was implemented at toll stations following the transfer, and discounted fares were introduced for off-season (December to April)^[3] and off-peak (17:00-09:00) travel.^[4]

The road is 4 lanes on the section designated as Route 119 with a speed limit of 80 km/h, and 2 lanes on the section designated as Route 120 with a speed limit of 60 km/h.^[1]

List of interchanges and features

• IC - interchange, PA - parking area, TB - toll plaza

No.	Name	Connections	Dist. from Origin	Notes	Location (all in Tochigi)
Expressway ends, road continues as National Route 119 (Utsunomiya Kita Road)
(10)	Utsunomiya IC	Tōhoku Expressway	0.0		Utsunomiya
1	Tokujira IC	National Route 293	2.0	Utsunomiya-bound exit, Nikkō-bound entrance only
<1-1>	Ishinada IC			Planned
2/TB	Ōsawa IC/ Ōsawa Toll Plaza	Pref. Route 110 (Shimotsuke Ōsawa Teishajō Route)	11.1		Nikkō
<2-1>	Dosawa IC	National Route 121 National Route 352 (Itabashi Bypass)		Planned
3	Imaichi IC	Pref. Route 70 (Utsunomiya Imaichi Route) National Route 121	20.0
PA	Nikkōguchi PA		22.2
4	Nikkō IC/ Nikkō Toll Plaza		24.6
5	Kiyotaki IC	National Route 120	30.7

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "Nikko Utsunomiya Road Design" (pdf). http://www.mlit.go.jp/road/sisaku/roaddesign/roaddesign.files/rd27.pdf. Retrieved 2008-05-16. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation Website (Company Information)". http://www.totidoko.or.jp/about.html. Retrieved 2008-05-16. 
3. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation Website (Nikko Utsunomiya Road Information)". http://www.totidoko.or.jp/rosen/nikko.html. Retrieved 2008-05-16. 
4. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation Website (Toll Information)". http://www.totidoko.or.jp/ryoukin/index.html#wari. Retrieved 2008-05-16. 

External links

• (Japanese) Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation