Meishin Expressway

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名神高速道路

Meshin EXPRESSWAY

The Meshin Expressway

Length:

120.4 mi (194 km)

Formed:

July 16, 1963

From:

Komaki,Aichi（(24) Komaki IC）

To:

Nishinomiya,Hyogo（(38) Nishinomiya IC）

Counties:

Japan

System:

Expressway

National highways of Japan

The Meishin Expressway (名神高速道路, Meishin Kōsoku-dōro^?)(=193.9km) (Asian Highway Network AH 1) is a toll expressway in Japan. It runs from a junction with the Tomei Expressway in Nagakute, Aichi (outside Nagoya) west to Nishinomiya, Hyogo (between Osaka and Kobe). It is the main road link between Osaka and Nagoya, and, along with the Tomei Expressway, forms the main road link between Osaka and Tokyo. East of the Chūgoku Expressway near Osaka, it is part of Asian Highway 1.

The part east of interchange 29 (Yokaichi) is owned by the Central Nippon Expressway Company; the rest is owned by the West Nippon Expressway Company.

The Meishin Expressway was the first expressway in Japan, with a section near Osaka and Kyoto opening July 16, 1963.

The Meishin Expressway parallels the old Nakasendō between Kyoto and Nagoya, now Route 8 and Route 21. The Meihan National Highway is a mostly non-tolled freeway between Osaka and Nagoya, lying further south and built to lower standards. The Second Meishin Expressway is an under-construction route between Osaka and Nagoya, lying between the two other high-speed roads, that will connect to the Second Tomei Expressway (via the Isewangan Expressway) and the Sanyō Expressway. It roughly parallels the old Tōkaidō (Route 1).

During the Great Hanshin Earthquake of January 17, 1995, the Meishin Expressway was lightly damaged but could only be used by emergency vehicles for weeks after the earthquake. It was the only remaining link between Osaka and Kobe for some time after the quake.

[edit] Exit list

Interchanges not yet opened are shown with a red background. Exit numbers continue from the sequence of the Tomei Expressway.

Number	Name	Intersecting routes	Opened	Notes
24	Komaki (小牧)	Nagoya Expressway Route 11 (Komaki Route); Route 41	April 25, 1968
25	Ichinomiya (一宮)	Nagoya Expressway Route 16 (Ichinomiya Route); Route 22	September 6, 1964
25-1	Ichinomiya Junction (一宮)	Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway	December 13, 1998
25-2	Gifu Hashima (岐阜羽島)		March 24, 1983
26	Ōgaki (大垣)	Route 258	September 6, 1964
	Yoro Junction (養老)	Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway (planned)
27	Sekigahara (関ヶ原)	Route 365	April 12, 1964
27-1	Maibara Junction (米原)	Hokuriku Expressway	April 7, 1980
28	Hikone (彦根)	Route 306/Route 307	April 12, 1964
29	Yokaichi (八日市)	Route 421	April 12, 1964
29-1	Ryuo (竜王)	Route 477	August 28, 1981
30	Ritto (栗東)	Route 1/Route 8	July 16, 1963	First Japanese Expressway opened From here to Nishinomiya(I.C.).
30-1	Kusatsu Junction (草津)	Shin-Meishin Expressway connection	March 19, 2005
30-2	Seta Higashi (瀬田東 Seta East)	Keiji Bypass; Route 1 bypass	August 29, 1988	westbound exit and eastbound entrance
30-2	Seta Nishi (瀬田西 Seta West)		??	eastbound exit and westbound entrance
31	Otsu (大津)		July 16, 1963
32	Kyoto Higashi (京都東 Kyoto East)	Route 1; Route 8(Otsu West bypass,for Kosei)	July 16, 1963
	Kyoto Minami Junction (京都南 Kyoto South)	Kyoto Expressway (planned)
33, 33-1 (First Exit), 33-2 (Second Exit)	Kyoto Minami (京都南 Kyoto South)	Route 1	July 16, 1963	split into 33-1 and 33-2 eastbound
33-3	Oyamazaki Junction (大山崎)	Keiji Bypass; Route 171; Kyoto-Junkan Expressway (planned)	August 10, 2003 (local access December 24, 2003)
	Takatsuki Second Junction (高槻第二)	Shin-Meishin Expressway connection (planned)
34	Ibaraki (茨木)	Route 171	July 16, 1963
35	Suita Junction (吹田)	Chūgoku Expressway; Kinki Expressway	March 1, 1970
36	Toyonaka (豊中)	Hanshin Expressway Route 11	July 16, 1963
37	Amagasaki (尼崎)			July 16, 1963
38	Nishinomiya (西宮)	Hanshin Expressway Route 3; Route 43	September 6, 1964	westbound exit and eastbound entrance;First Japanese Expressway opened From here to Ritto(I.C.).