Hokkaidō Expressway

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This article contains information about a planned or expected future road. It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the road's construction or completion approaches and more information becomes available.

Hokkaidō Expressway (道央自動車道)
Length:	397.6 km[1]
Formed:	1971[2]
From:	Nanae Interchange in Nanae, Hokkaidō Hakodate Shindō National Route 5
To:	Nayoro Interchange in Nayoro, Hokkaidō Nayoro Bypass
Major cities:	Muroran, Tomakomai, Chitose, Sapporo, Fukagawa, Asahikawa

The Hokkaidō Expressway (道央自動車道, Dōō Jidōsha-dō^?) is a national expressway in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.

[edit] Naming

The expressway is named the Dōō Expressway (lit. Central Hokkaidō Expressway) in Japanese, however its official English name is the Hokkaidō Expressway. It is the only national expressway in Japan whose English name is not a direct romanization of the Japanese name.

Officially the expressway is designated as the Hokkaidō Jūkan Expressway.^[3]

[edit] Overview

Chitose-Eniwa Junction

The expressway connects the north of Hokkaidō with the south via the city of Sapporo. Extension of the expressway in the north towards the city of Wakkanai and in the south towards the city of Hakodate is underway; although the Hokkaidō Expressway itself is not planned to extend as far as these two cities, various expressway-standard roads (bypasses of National Route 40 to the north and National Route 5 to the south) will cover the remaining distances.

Some unfinished sections of the expressway (Shibetsu-Kenbuchi Interchange to Nayoro Interchange in the north and Ōnuma Interchange to Nanae Interchange in the south) will be constructed according to the New Direct Control System.^[4] These sections are expected to operate toll-free upon completion.

The section from Sapporo-minami Interchange through Sapporo Junction to Sapporo-nishi Interchange on the Sasson 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.^[5]

[edit] History

• December 4, 1971 - Kitahiroshima Interchange - Chitose Interchange section opened.
• September 19, 1972 - Kitahiroshima Interchange - Chitose Interchange section expanded to 4 lanes.
• October 24, 1978 - Chitose Interchange - Tomakomai-higashi Interchange section opened.
• October 29, 1979 - Sapporo-minami Interchange - Kitahiroshima Interchange section opened.
• October 29, 1980 - Tomakomai-higashi Interchange - Tomakomai-nishi Interchange section opened.
• November 9, 1983 - Sapporo Interchange - Iwamizawa Interchange section opened.
• November 30, 1983 - Tomakomai-nishi Interchange - Shiraoi Interchange section opened.
• October 18, 1985 - Shiraoi Interchange - Noboribetsu-higashi Interchange section opened.
• October 25, 1985 - Sapporo Interchange - Sapporo-minami Interchange section opened.
• October 9, 1986 - Noboribetsu-higashi Interchange - Noboribetsu Muroran Interchange section opened.
• September 18, 1987 - Iwamizawa Interchange - Bibai Interchange section opened. Mikasa and Bibai Interchanges become the first in Japan to implement automated ticket dispensers at toll gates.
• October 8, 1988 - Bibai Interchange - Takikawa Interchange section opened.
• September 12, 1989 - Takikawa Interchange - Fukagawa Interchange section opened.
• October 30, 1990 - Fukagawa Interchange - Asahikawa Takasu Interchange section opened (originally 2 lanes, expansion to 4 lanes completed in 2004).
• April 26, 1991 - Highway Oasis opened at Sunagawa Service Area (at that time the second in Japan in first in Hokkaidō).
• October 25, 1991 - Noboribetsu Muroran Interchange - Muroran Interchange section opened.
• September 30, 1992 - Sapporo Junction is opened, connecting with the Sasson Expressway.
• October 27, 1992 - Muroran Interchange - Date Interchange section opened.
• March 30, 1994 - Date Interchange - Abuta Tōyako Interchange section opened.
• October 22, 1997 - Abuta Tōyako Interchange - Oshamanbe Interchange section opened.
• March 23, 1998 - Connection with the Hidaka Expressway is completed at Tomakomai-higashi Interchange.
• April 11, 1998 - Fukagawa Junction is opened, connecting with the Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway.
• October 7, 1999 - Chitose-Eniwa Junction is opened, connecting with the Dōtō Expressway.
• November, 1999 - Chitose-bound exit opened at Sapporo-minami Interchange.
• March 29, 2000 - Date Interchange - Toyoura Interchange section closed due to risk of eruption from nearby Mount Usu.
• July 13, 2000 - Temporary Abuta Tōyako Interchange opened, allowing access to Toyoura Interchange.
• October 4, 2000 - Asahikawa Takasu Interchange - Wassamu Interchange section opened.
• February 9, 2001 - Date Interchange - Toyoura Interchange section reopened.
• June 30, 2001 - Temporary Abuta Tōyako Interchange closed due to full reopening of expressway.
• September 10, 2001 - Asahikawa-bound entrance opened at Sapporo-minami Interchange.
• October 17, 2001 - Fukagawa Interchange - Otoe Parking Area section expanded to 4 lanes.
• November 19, 2001 - Oshamanbe Interchange - Kunnui Interchange section opened.
• September 30, 2003 - Otoe Parking Area - Asahikawa Takasu Interchange section expanded to 4 lanes.
• October 4, 2003 - Wassamu Interchange - Shibetsu-Kenbuchi Interchange section opened.
• March 27, 2004 - Pippu Junction is opened, connecting with the Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway.
• November 18, 2006 - Kunnui Interchange - Yakumo Interchange section opened.
• December 21, 2007 - Abuta Tōyako Interchange is moved to a new location to meet the rebuilt National Route 230.

[edit] List of interchanges and features

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

[edit] Southern route (Nanae IC - Sapporo JCT)

No.	Name	Connections	Dist. from Sapporo JCT	Dist. from Terminus	Bus Stop	Notes	Speed Limit	Lanes	Location (all in Hokkaidō)
Through to Hakodate Shindō
<21>	Nanae IC	National Route 5				Planned	-	-	Nanae
TN	Ōnuma Tunnel					Planned
<20>	Ōnuma IC	Pref. Route 149 (Ōnuma Inter Route)				Opens in 2012			Mori
<PA>	Komagatake PA					Planned
<TB>	Mori Toll Gate					Planned
<19>	Mori IC	Pref. Route 1156 (Mori Inter Route)				Opens in 2012
<18>	Otoshibe IC	Pref. Route 1155 (Otoshibe Inter Route)				Opens in 2010			Yakumo
<SA>	Yakumo SA					Opens in 2012 Highway Oasis
17	Yakumo IC	National Route 277	226.0	0.0
							70 km/h	Two
<PA>	Kunnui PA		↑	↓		Opens in 2010			Oshamanbe
16	Kunnui IC	National Route 230	204.3	21.7
15	Oshamanbe IC	National Route 5	193.2	32.8
PA	Shizukari PA		187.9	38.1
<14-1>	Kuromatsunai JCT	Kuromatsunai Road (Planned)	↑	↓		Opens in 2010			Kuromatsunai
TN	Kanayama Tunnel		↑	↓
									Toyoura
14	Toyoura IC	National Route 37	159.4	66.6
TN	Takaoka Tunnel		↑	↓
PA	Toyoura-Funkawan PA		154.3	71.7		Highway Oasis
TN	Toyoura Tunnel		↑	↓
TN	Shinonome Tunnel		↑	↓
TN	Kiyomizu Tunnel		↑	↓					Tōyako
TN	Abuta Tunnel		↑	↓
TN	Aoba Tunnel		↑	↓
13	Abuta Tōyako IC	National Route 230	146.2	79.8
TN	Tōya Tunnel		↑	↓
-	Kitausu Emergency Exit		↑	↓		Authorized vehicles only
-	Higashiusu Emergency Exit		↑	↓		Authorized vehicles only
12	Date IC	Pref. Route 145 (Date Inter Route) Pref. Route 519 (Takinomachi Date Route)	132.6	93.4					Date
SA	Usuzan SA		130.2	95.8
11	Muroran IC	Pref. Route 107 (Muroran Kanjō Route) Pref. Route 127 (Muroran Inter Route)	119.7	106.3					Muroran
PA	Moto-Wanishi PA		118.2	107.8		Hakodate-bound only
TN	Kamiyo Tunnel		↑	↓
TN	Tenjin Tunnel		↑	↓
TN	Subetsu Tunnel		↑	↓					Noboribetsu
10	Noboribetsu Muroran IC	National Route 36 Pref. Route 144 (Noboribetsu Muroran Inter Route)	110.1	115.9
							100 km/h	Four
TN	Tobaribetsu Tunnel		↑	↓
PA	Tomiura PA		101.7	124.3
9	Noboribetsu-higashi IC	Pref. Route 2 (Tōyako Noboribetsu Route)	98.7	127.3
TN	Gojōhama Tunnel		↑	↓					Shiraoi
BS	Takeura Bus Stop		89.7	136.3	○
PA	Hagino PA		84.9	141.1
8	Shiraoi IC	Pref. Route 86 (Shiraoi Ōtaki Route)	80.1	145.9
TN	Shiraoi Tunnel		↑	↓
TN	Boroto Tunnel		↑	↓
SA	Tarumae SA		67.4	158.6					Tomakomai
7	Tomakomai-nishi IC	Pref. Route 141 (Tarumae Nishikioka Route)	64.3	161.7
<6-1>	Tomakomai-chūō IC	National Route 276	↑	↓		Planned
BS	Takaoka Bus Stop		55.2	170.8	○
6	Tomakomai-higashi IC/ JCT	Hidaka Expressway Pref. Route 91 (Tomakomai-higashi Inter Route)	46.7	179.3
PA	Misawa PA		41.4	184.6
<5-1>	New Chitose Airport IC	Pref. Route 1091 (Izumisawa Shinchitose Kūkō Route)	↑	↓		Planned			Chitose
5	Chitose IC	Pref. Route 77 (Chitose Inter Route)	34.8	191.2
BR	Chitosegawa Bridge		↑	↓
4-1	Chitose-Eniwa JCT	Dōtō Expressway	29.8	196.2
4	Eniwa IC/BS	Pref. Route 117 (Eniwadake Kōen Route)	25.8	200.2	○				Eniwa
BS	Kita-Eniwa Bus Stop		22.1	203.9	○
PA	Wattsu PA		16.0	210.0	○				Kitahiroshima
3	Kitahiroshima IC	National Route 36	11.9	214.1
2-1 TB	Sapporo-minami IC/TB		7.4	218.6					Kiyota-ku, Sapporo
							80 km/h		Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo
BR	Atsubetsu Overpass		↑	↓
									Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
2	Ōyachi IC	National Route 274 (Sapporo Shindō)	3.6	222.4		Tomakomai-bound exit, Asahikawa-bound entrance only
1	Kitagō IC	National Route 274 (Sapporo Shindō)	1.6	224.4		Asahikawa-bound exit, Tomakomai-bound entrance only
1-1	Sapporo JCT	Northern Route	0.0	226.0
Through to Sasson Expressway

[edit] Northern route (Sapporo JCT - Nayoro IC)

No.	Name	Connections	Dist. from Sapporo JCT	Dist. from Terminus	Bus Stop	Notes	Speed Limit	Lanes	Location
1-1	Sapporo JCT	Sasson Expressway Southern Route	0.0	171.6			100 km/h	Four	Shiroishi-ku, Sapporo
1	Sapporo IC/TB	National Route 274 (Sapporo Shindō)	0.5	171.1		Asahikawa-bound entrance, Tomakomai-bound exit only
BR	Tsukisamukawa Bridge		↓	↑
2	Ebetsu-nishi IC	Pref. Route 110 (Ebetsu Inter Route)	7.1	164.5					Ebetsu
PA	Nopporo PA		10.3	161.3	○
BR	Chitosegawa Bridge		↓	↑
3	Ebetsu-higashi IC	National Route 337	16.7	154.9
BR	Yūbarigawa Bridge		↓	↑
BS	Kurisawa Bus Stop		24.3	147.3	○				Iwamizawa
4	Iwamizawa IC	National Route 234	32.4	139.2
SA	Iwamizawa SA/ Higashiyama Bus Stop		36.1	135.5	○
5	Mikasa IC	Pref. Route 116 (Iwamizawa Mikasa Route)	42.3	129.3					Mikasa
TN	Kōshunai Tunnel		↓	↑					Bibai
TN	Bibai Tunnel		↓	↑
6	Bibai IC	Pref. Route 135 (Bibai Furano Route)	53.6	118.0
PA	Chashinai PA		59.0	112.6	○
7	Naie Sunagawa IC	Pref. Route 114 (Akabira Naie Route)	67.2	104.4					Naie
BS	Sunagawa Yoshino Bus Stop		71.1	100.5	○				Sunagawa
SA	Sunagawa SA/ Sunagawa Ishiyama Bus Stop		76.1	95.5	○	Highway Oasis
BR	Sorachigawa Bridge		↓	↑
									Takikawa
8	Takikawa IC	National Route 38	81.2	90.4
BS	Ebeotsu Bus Stop		86.6	85.0	○
8-1	Fukagawa JCT	Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway	94.0	77.6					Fukagawa
9	Fukagawa IC	Pref. Route 79 (Fukagawa Toyosato Route)	99.1	72.5
							80 km/h
PA	Otoe PA		104.9	66.7
BR	Ishikarigawa Bridge		↓	↑
BS	Osamunai Bus Stop		109.1	62.5	○
TN	Tokiwa Tunnel		↓	↑
									Asahikawa
TN	Etanbetsu Tunnel		↓	↑
TN	Arashiyama Tunnel		↓	↑
									Takasu
10	Asahikawa Takasu IC	Pref. Route 146 (Asahikawa Takasu Inter Route) Pref. Route 1125 (Arashiyama Kōen Route)	125.8	45.8
							70 km/h	Two	Asahikawa
11	Asahikawa-kita IC	Pref. Route 37 (Takasu Higashikagura Route)	134.3	36.8
PA	Pippu-Taisetsu PA		141.6	30.0					Pippu
11-1	Pippu JCT	Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway	145.0	26.6
12	Wassamu IC	National Route 40	155.6	16.0					Wassamu
<TB>	Wassamu Toll Gate		↓	↑		Planned
<PA>	Kenbuchi PA		↓	↑		Opens in 2020			Kenbuchi
13	Shibetsu-Kenbuchi IC	National Route 40	171.6	0.0
							-	-
<14>	Tayoro IC	Pref. Route 888 (Tōyō Tayoro Route)				Planned			Shibetsu
(15)	Nayoro IC								Nayoro
Through to Nayoro Bypass

[edit] References

1. ^ E-NEXCO Expressway Data. Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
2. ^ History of Kitahiroshima City. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
3. ^ Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. High Standard Trunk Road Map (pdf). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
4. ^ E-NEXCO Opening Schedule. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.
5. ^ E-NEXCO Drive Plaza Route Search. Retrieved on 2008-04-15.

[edit] External links

• (Japanese) East Nippon Expressway Company

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