Yamate Tunnel

Yamate Tunnel

Nishi-ikebukuro Interchange
Overview
Location	Tokyo, Japan
Status	In service
Route	Shuto Expressway Central Circular Route (C2)
Operation
Work begun	1992
Opened	December 22, 2007 (initial segment) March 7, 2015 (entire tunnel)
Traffic	automobile
Character	expressway, twin-tube
Toll	¥530 to ¥930 (cars) ¥1,030 to ¥1,850 (trucks) (with electronic toll collection) ¥930-¥1,850 (cash)
Technical
Length	18.2 km (11.3 mi)
Number of lanes	2 per tube (4 total)
Operating speed	60 kilometres per hour (37 mph)

The Yamate Tunnel (山手トンネル, Yamate Tonneru) carries the Central Circular Route (C2) of the Shuto Expressway in Tokyo, Japan from the Takamatsu on-ramp in Toshima to near the Ōi Junction in Shinagawa. The overall length is 18.2 km.

Lying 30 m below the surface, about 70% was constructed by the tunnelling shield method. The roadway consists of two lanes in each direction. Nearly all of the tunnel lies beneath Yamate Dori. On completion the Yamate Tunnel, surpassed the Kan'etsu Tunnel on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, to become the longest road tunnel in Japan and the second longest road tunnel in the world.^[1]

History

Construction on the Yamate Tunnel began in 1992. The Takamatsu – Nishi Shinjuku segment opened on December 22, 2007. On the same date, an above-ground segment linking the tunnel to the Kumanochō Interchange in Itabashi and Toshima also opened. The last section linking Ohashi to the Bayshore Route opened on 7 March, 2015.

Facilities

The tunnel has many operational and safety facilities. Among them are emergency telephones and cameras at 100 m intervals. Fire-safety equipment includes infrared sensors, fire extinguishers, foam sprayers, and pushbutton alarms. Emergency exits leading to a separate emergency path are located no more than 350 m apart. Stairways lead up to Yamate Street. A duct running parallel to the roadway supplies fresh air and removes exhaust. Dust-collection systems are designed to remove 80% of particulates from the air.

Ramps and junctions

• Nishi-ikebukuro Interchange
• Nakano-Chojabashi Interchange
• Nishi-Shinjuku Junction
• Hatsudai-minami Interchange
• Tomigaya Interchange
• Ōhashi Junction

Other underground viaducts

The Yamate Tunnel passes above the Yūrakuchō and Ōedo subway lines. It crosses below the Tōzai and Marunouchi subway lines, as well as the Keiō and Keiō New Lines and the Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line. Additionally, the tunnel parallels the Ōedo Line along a segment between Nakai and Nishi Shinjuku Gochome Stations. Nakai and Nakano Sakaue Stations, lying beneath the Yamate Tunnel, have escalators that pass between Yamate's two tunnels.

Additional reading

• 西澤丞著『首都高山手トンネル』求龍堂（2007年） ISBN 978-4-7630-0725-4

Source

This article incorporates material from 山手トンネル (Yamate Tonneru) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved December 22, 2007.

References