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Chūō Expressway

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Chūō Expressway sign
Chūō Expressway
中央自動車道
Route information
Length366.8 km (227.9 mi)
Main Route - 344.9 km[2][3]
Kawaguchiko Route - 21.9 km[3]
Existed1967[1]–present
Major junctions
FromTakaido Interchange in Suginami, Tokyo
Shuto Expressway Shinjuku Route
Tokyo Metropolitan Route 14
ToKomaki Junction in Komaki, Aichi
Tōmei Expressway
Kawaguchiko Interchange in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi
Higashifuji-goko Road
National Route 139
Location
CountryJapan
Major citiesHachiōji, Sagamihara, Ōtsuki, Kōfu, Suwa, Okaya, Iida, Nakatsugawa, Tajimi, Kasugai
Highway system

The Chūō Expressway (中央自動車道, Chūō Jidōsha-dō, lit. Central Expressway) is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company.

Naming

Officially the expressway is designated as the Chūō Expressway Nishinomiya Route (from Takaido Interchange to Komaki Junction), the Chūō Expressway Nagano Route (from Takaido Interchange to Okaya Junction), and the Chūō Expressway Fujiyoshida Route (from Takaido Interchange through Ōtsuki Junction to Kawaguchiko Interchange, this section being a branch of the main route).[4] These designations do not appear on any signage as all sections are signed simply as the Chūō Expressway.

Overview

The Chūō Expressway is a major roadway connecting the greater Tokyo and Nagoya urban areas, a role also shared by the Tōmei Expressway. While the Tōmei Expressway follows a coastal route, the Chūō Expressway follows an inland route through the mountainous regions of Kanagawa, Yamanashi, Nagano, and Gifu Prefectures, its highest point (1,015 meters above sea level) being at 157.3 km point sandwiched between the Yatsugatake Mountains and Southern Japanese Alps. In addition, a branch of the expressway in Yamanashi Prefecture known as the Kawaguchiko Route facilitates access to Mount Fuji and the Fuji Five Lakes area.

The expressway is 4 lanes for its entire length except for the section between Uenohara Interchange and Ōtuski Junction, which is 6 to 7 lanes. This section was originally 4 lanes as well, however increasing traffic volume led to the construction of a new parallel roadway for Uenohara-bound traffic, with the original 4 lanes of roadway being converted for the use of Ōtsuki-bound traffic only.

Tolls on the section from Takaido Interchange to Hachiōji Interchange are charged at a flat rate. As of April 2008 the toll on this section is 600 yen for a regular passenger car. Tolls on all other sections of the expressway are assessed according to distance travelled in the same manner as most other national expressways.[5] Also, tolls on the section from Sonohara Interchange to Nakatsugawa Interchange are assessed at 1.6 times the normal rate to account for the high cost of constructing the Enasan Tunnel. Vehicles carrying dangerous materials are forbidden from using this tunnel and must use alternate routes.

History

The Chūō Expressway affords many fine views of Mount Fuji.
Near Futaba Junction
Chūō Expressway in Fujimi, Nagano
  • December 15, 1967 - Chōfu Interchange - Hachiōji Interchange section opened.
  • December 20, 1968 - Hachiōji Interchange - Sagamiko Interchange section opened.
  • March 17, 1969 - Sagamiko Interchange - Kawaguchiko Interchange section opened.
  • October 5, 1972 - Tajimi Interchange - Komaki Junction section opened, connecting with the Tōmei Expressway.
  • September 6, 1973 - Mizunami Interchange - Tajimi Interchange section opened.
  • March 5, 1975 - Nakatsugawa Interchange - Mizunami Interchange section opened.
  • August 23, 1975 - Komagane Interchange - Nakatsugawa Interchange section opened (Enasan Tunnel opened with 2 lanes of traffic only).
  • May 18, 1976 - Takaido Interchange - Chōfu Interchange section opened.
  • September 18, 1976 - Ihoku Interchange - Komagane Interchange section opened.
  • December 19, 1976 - Nirasaki Interchange - Kobuchisawa Interchange section opened.
  • December 20, 1977 - Ōtsuki Junction - Katsunuma Interchange section opened.
  • November 16, 1979 - Komaki-higashi Interchange opened.
  • March 26, 1980 - Kōfu-Shōwa Interchange - Nirasaki Interchange section opened.
  • March 30, 1981 - Kobuchisawa Interchange - Ihoku Interchange section opened.
  • November 10, 1982 - Katsunuma Interchange - Kōfu-Shōwa Interchange section opened, completing the entire route.
  • November, 1984 - Tsuru Interchange opened.
  • March 25, 1986 - Okaya Junction - Okaya Interchange section opened.
  • August 28, 1986 - Connection to Higashifuji-goko Road at Kawaguchiko Interchange is completed.
  • September 27, 1986 - Nagasaka Interchange opened.
  • March 5, 1988 - Okaya Junction - Okaya Interchange section is transferred to the Nagano Expressway.
  • September 27, 1989 - Uenohara Interchange opened.
  • March 25, 1992 - Sonohara Interchange opened.
  • January, 1993 - Renovation of Dangōzaka Service Area completed. The Komaki-bound service area is moved 2 km closer to Tokyo, while the Tokyo-bound service area is moved to the former site of the Komaki-bound service area.
  • April 14, 1995 - Inagi Interchange opened.
  • March 24, 2002 - Futaba Junction is opened, connecting with the Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway.
  • March 16, 2003 - Reconstruction of the Uenohara Interchange - Ōtsuki Junction section is completed (additional lanes added, areas with sharp curves abandoned, Tokyo-bound Dangōzaka Service Area renovated, area near Ōtsuki Junction susceptible to traffic weaving eliminated).
  • March 19, 2005 - Toki Junction is opened, connecting with the Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway.
  • October 1, 2005 - Expressway management is transferred from Japan Highway Public Corporation to Central Nippon Expressway Company as a result of the privatization of the national expressway network.
  • October 1, 2006 - Futaba Smart Interchange opened.
  • June 23, 2007 - Hachiōji Junction is opened, connecting with the Ken-Ō Expressway.
  • December 2, 2012 - Sasago Tunnel collapses, killing nine people.[6]

List of interchanges and features

Main Route

No. Name Connections Dist. from
Origin 		Bus Stop Notes Speed Limit Location
Through to Shuto Expressway Shinjuku Route
1 Takaido IC Met. Route 14 (Shinjuku Kunitachi Route) (Tōhachi Road) 0.0 Tokyo-bound exit only 60 km/h Suginami Tokyo
<2> Chūō JCT Tokyo Gaikan Expressway Planned Mitaka
BS Mitaka Bus Stop 4.0 ○
TB Mitaka Toll Gate 4.0 Komaki-bound only
80 km/h
BS Jindaiji Bus Stop 6.0 ○ Chōfu
3 Chōfu IC National Route 20 (Kōshū Kaidō) 7.7
3-1 Inagi IC Inagiōhashi Toll Road 10.0 Komaki-bound exit, Takaido-bound entrance only
No free road access 		Fuchū
100 km/h
BS Fuchū Bus Stop 11.5 ○
4 Kunitachi-Fuchū IC National Route 20 (Hino Bypass) 17.0 Kunitachi
BS Hino Bus Stop 20.0 ○ Hino
PA Ishikawa PA 23.3
23.5 		Takaido-bound
Komaki-bound 		Hachiōji
5-1 Hachiōji No.1 Exit National Route 16 (Hachiōji Bypass) 25.8 Komaki-bound only
5-2 Hachiōji No.2 Exit National Route 16 Komaki-bound only
5
TB
5 		Hachiōji IC
Hachiōji Toll Gate
Hachiōji Exit 		Exit is Takaido-bound only
BS Motohachiōji Bus Stop 31.0 ○ 80 km/h
- Motohachiōji IC Met. Route 61 (Yamada Miyanomae Route) 33.2 Planned
6 Hachiōji JCT Ken-Ō Expressway 36.0
7 Sagamiko Higashi Exit National Route 20 42.4 Komaki-bound only Sagamihara Kanagawa
BS Sagamiko Bus Stop 42.9 ○
8 Sagamiko IC National Route 20 45.4
PA Fujino PA 46.5
9 Uenohara IC Pref. Route 35 (Yokkaichiba Uenohara Route) 50.3 ○ Uenohara Yamanashi
SA Dangōzaka SA/
Nodajiri Bus Stop 		55.6 Komaki-bound
57.7 ○ Takaido-bound
BS Saruhashi Bus Stop 65.1 ○ Ōtsuki
10 Ōtsuki IC National Route 20 70.4
11 Ōtsuki JCT Kawaguchiko Route 71.4
BS Magi Bus Stop 72.8 ○
PA Hatsukari PA 74.8
BS Sasago Bus Stop 78.7 ○
70 km/h
BS Kai-Yamato Bus Stop 86.4 ○ Kōshū
12 Katsunuma IC National Route 20 (Katsunuma Bypass) 90.5
80 km/h
PA Shakadō PA 92.8 ○
Fuefuki
BS Kai-Ichinomiya Bus Stop 95.2 ○
13 Ichinomiya-Misaka IC National Route 137 96.6
BS Misaka Bus Stop 98.7 ○
BS Yatsushiro Bus Stop 101.4 ○
PA Sakaigawa PA 104.2
104.5 		○ Takaido-bound
Komaki-bound
14 Kōfu-minami IC National Route 358 106.2 ○ Kōfu
BS Shōwa Bus Stop 112.3 ○ Shōwa
15 Kōfu-Shōwa IC National Route 20 (Kōfu Bypass) 113.8
SA Futaba SA/
SIC/
Futaba-higashi Bus Stop 		118.5 ○ SIC: Komaki-bound exit, Takaido-bound entrance only Kai
15-1 Futaba JCT Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway 120.4
16 Nirasaki IC Pref. Route 27 (Nirasaki Shōsenkyō Route) 125.0 Nirasaki
BS Akeno Bus Stop 129.5 ○ Hokuto
17 Sutama IC National Route 141 132.0
70 km/h
BS Nagasaka-Takane Bus Stop 140.1 ○
17-1 Nagasaka IC Pref. Route 32 (Nagasaka Takane Route) 140.7
80 km/h
- Nagasaka JCT Chūbu-Ōdan Expressway (Planned) Planned
PA Yatsugatake PA 143.1 ○
18 Kobuchisawa IC Pref. Route 11 (Hokuto Fujimi Route) 148.9 Fujimi Nagano
BS Fujimi Bus Stop 157.7 ○
19 Suwa-minami IC Pref. Route 425 (Haraizawa Fujimi Route)
Pref. Route 90 (Suwa-minami Inter Route) 		161.5
PA Chūōdō-Hara PA 163.8 ○ Komaki-bound Hara
164.6 Takaido-bound
BS Chino Bus Stop 169.9 ○ Chino
20 Suwa IC National Route 20 (Suwa Bypass) 172.6 Suwa
BS Aruga Bus Stop 177.3 ○
SA Suwako SA 178.5
Okaya
21 Okaya JCT Nagano Expressway 182.7 From Okaya JCT to Komaki JCT the Chūō Expressway is signed
BS Kawagishi Bus Stop 186.0 ○
PA Tatsuno PA 192.7 ○ Tatsuno
22 Ihoku IC National Route 153 196.7 ○
Minowa
BS Minowa Bus Stop 200.5 ○
23 Ina IC Pref. Route 476 (Ina Inter Nishiminowa Route)
Pref. Route 87 (Ina Inter Route) 		206.2 ○ Minamiminowa
Ina
PA Ogurogawa PA 209.1
BS Nishiharuchika Bus Stop 212.2 ○
BS Miyada Bus Stop 217.4 ○ Miyada
24 Komagane IC Pref. Route 75 (Komagane Komagatake Kōen Route) 221.4 ○ Komagane
SA Komagatake SA 224.7
BS Iijima Bus Stop 228.7 ○ Iijima
25 Matsukawa IC Pref. Route 15 (Iijima Iida Route)
Pref. Route 59 (Matsukawa Inter Ōshika Route) 		236.7 ○ Matsukawa
BS Takamori Bus Stop 243.1 ○ Takamori
PA Zakōji PA 245.3 Iida
BS Kamiiida Bus Stop 248.9 ○
26 Iida IC/
Igara Bus Stop 		National Route 153 (Iida Bypass) 252.2 ○
26-1 Iida-Yamamoto IC National Route 153
San-ennanshin Expressway 		257.4
PA Achi PA/
Komaba Bus Stop 		259.8 ○ Achi
70 km/h
26-1 Sonohara IC Pref. Route 89 (Sonohara Inter Route)
Pref. Route 477 (Fujimidai Kōen Route) 		267.0 ○ Takaido-bound exit, Komaki-bound entrance only
TN Enasan Tunnel 271.0 Dangerous goods forbidden
Nakatsugawa Gifu
PA Misaka PA/
Magome Bus Stop 		278.9 ○ 80 km/h
27 Nakatsugawa IC National Route 19 288.9 ○
SA Enakyō SA 294.4 Ena
28 Ena IC Pref. Route 68 (Ena Shirakawa Route) 298.3 ○
PA Byōbuzan PA 310.2
311.4 		Takaido-bound
Komaki-bound 		Mizunami
BS Mizunami-Tentoku Bus Stop 314.8 ○
29 Mizunami IC Pref. Route 47 (Mizunami Inter Route) 316.4
30 Toki IC National Route 21 320.9 ○ Toki
30-1 Toki JCT Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway 323.4
PA Kokeizan PA 327.9 Takaido-bound only Tajimi
31 Tajimi IC National Route 248 329.7 ○
PA Utsutsutōge PA 336.2 Kasugai Aichi
32 Komaki-higashi IC Pref. Route 49 (Kasugai Inuyama Route) 337.8 Komaki
BS Tōkadai Bus Stop 343.0 ○
23 Komaki JCT Tōmei Expressway 344.9
33 Komaki JCT Tomei Expressway 350.4
  • Changing areas for snow chains
    • Achi PA - Sonohara IC
    • Hatsukari PA - Katsunuma IC
    • Sutama IC - Nagasaka IC (Komaki-bound)
    • Yatsugatake PA - Kobuchisawa IC (Two areas Komaki-bound)
    • Kobuchisawa IC - Suwa-minami IC
    • Okaya JCT - Tatsuno PA

Kawaguchiko Route

No. Name Connections Dist. from
Takaido IC 		Bus Stop Notes Location
(all in Yamanashi)
11 Ōtsuki JCT Main Route 71.4 Ōtsuki
BS Ogatayama Bus Stop 73.2 ○ Tsuru
1 Tsuru IC Pref. Route 705 (Takahatake Yamura Teishajō Route)
Pref. Route 40 (Tsuru Inter Route) 		77.6 ○ Fujiyoshida-bound exit, Ōtsuki-bound entrance only
PA Yamura PA 79.4
79.7 		Ōtsuki-bound
Fujiyoshida-bound
BS Nishikatsura Bus Stop 84.7 ○ Nishikatsura
BS Shimoyoshida Bus Stop 89.8 ○ Fujiyoshida
2 Kawaguchiko IC National Route 139 93.9 Fujiyoshida-bound exit, Ōtsuki-bound entrance only Fujikawaguchiko
Through to Higashifuji-goko Road
  • The speed limit on the Kawaguchiko Route is 80 km/h.
  • To prevent confusion with the main route, kilometer markers along the Kawaguchiko Route show the distance from Takaido Interchange plus 300 (the marker at Ōtsuki Junction is 371.4 while the marker at Kawaguchiko Interchange is 393.9)

References

  1. ^ Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "History of Tokyo's 3 Ring Roads". Archived from the original on 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-04-17. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "Road Timetable". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  3. ^ a b Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "Road Timetable". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  4. ^ Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "High Standard Trunk Road Map" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on 2011-09-20. Retrieved 2008-04-13. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "E-NEXCO Drive Plaza Route Search". Retrieved 2008-04-13.
  6. ^ "At least three dead after Japan tunnel collapse: TV". Reuters. Yahoo! Sports. 2012-12-02. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
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