Shimokita Expressway

The Shimokita Expressway (下北半島縦貫道路, Shimokita Hantō Jūkandōro) is a two-lane national expressway in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. The expressway connects Noheji to the municipalities of Rokkasho, and Yokohama. It is owned and operated by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), and is signed as an auxiliary route of National Route 279, but has no expressway number under their "2016 Proposal for Realization of Expressway Numbering."[2][3]

Shimokita Expressway
下北半島縦貫道路 (Shimokita Hantō Jūkandōro)
Route information
Length25.3 km[1] (15.7 mi)
Existed2004–present
Component
highways		 National Route 279
Major junctions
South endNoheji Interchange
National Route 4 in Tōhoku, Aomori
North endFukkoshi Interchange
National Route 279 in
Yokohama, Aomori
Incomplete Yokohama-Mutsu Section
Length36.1 km[1] (22.4 mi)
South endFukkoshi Interchange
National Route 279 in
Yokohama, Aomori
North endMutsu Interchange
National Route 338 in
Mutsu, Aomori
Highway system
National highways of Japan
Expressways of Japan

Route description
The Shimokita Expressway in Rokkasho.

The southern terminus of the Shimokita Expressway is at a signaled intersection with National Route 4 in Tōhoku. From here, the expressway immediately loops from a western heading to the northeastern one. Along the short loop it crosses into Noheji, back into Tōhoku, then into Noheji once more after crossing over National Route 4. The expressway then crosses over the Aoimori Railway Line and proceeds north.
From Noheji heading north through the Shimokita Peninsula, the expressway parallels the mainline of National Route 279. After a couple of interchanges, the expressway enters the village, Rokkasho. The expressway's importance in the village is critical due to the presence of multiple nuclear facilities.[4][5]
The expressway heads northeast while in Rokkasho. It crosses into the town of Yokohama where it meets its temporary northern terminus at the main line of National Route 279. While the expressway primarily has only one lane traveling in each direction, short passing lanes are available near Noheji-kimyo, Noheji-kita, and Rokkasho interchanges.

History

Planning began of the route commenced on 16 December 16 1994. On 26 November 2004, the first section of the expressway opened to traffic between Noheji-half and Noheji-kita Interchanges. On 2 December 2005 the expressway was extended south to the current southern terminus at Noheji Interchange. On 13 November 2012 the expressway was extended north from Noheji-kita to Rokkasho Interchange. On 15 November 2017, the expressway opened to traffic between Rokkasho Interchange and Fukkoshi Interchange.[1] On 23 December 2019, the first section of the expressway in Mutsu opened.[6]

Future

The government of Aomori Prefecture plans for the Shimokita Expressway to be extended from both its northern terminus at Fukkoshi Interchange and its southern terminus at Noheji Interchange. From Fukkoshi, the expressway is to be extended 36.1 kilometers (22.4 mi) to Mutsu Interchange in the city of Mutsu in the northern part of Aomori. As of January 2018, some of this section is under construction.[1] From Noheji Interchange, the expressway will be extended to a junction with the Kamikita Expressway and Michinoku Toll Road.[7] On 11 January 2019, the governor of Aomori Prefecture, Shingo Mimura requested the Liberal Democratic Party's help in providing funding for the section between Noheji and Shichinohe.[8] MLIT announced later in 2019 that the section between Noheji and Shichinohe will be evaluated to determine if the expressway should be extended.[9]

Junction list

The entire expressway is in Aomori Prefecture.

LocationkmmiExitNameDestinationsNotes
Shichinohe0.00.0—Tenmabashi[10] Kamikita Expressway / Michinoku Toll Road – Hachinohe, AomoriThe connection between Michinoku Toll Road and Kamikita Expressway is under construction, however this work does not yet include a connection to the Shimokita Expressway.
Tōhoku7.04.3—Noheji National Route 4 – Noheji, HiranaiCurrent southern terminus of the expressway.
Noheji13.98.6—Noheji-halfUnnamed road
20.212.6—Noheji-kitaAomori Prefecture Route 156 – Rokkasho
Rokkasho26.516.5—RokkashoUnnamed road – Rokkasho, MutsuProvides access to/from nuclear facilities
Yokohama32.320.1—Fukkoshi National Route 279 – Mutsu
Gap in the expressway, connection is made by National Route 279
Mutsu3.42.1—Mutsu-Higashidōri National Route 338 / National Route 394The kilometer posts for the Mutsu section of the expressway denote the distance traveled from Mutsu Interchange unlike the posts for the southern section of the expressway that denote the distance traveled from Noheji Interchange
2.11.3—Mutsu-ShiriyazakiAomori Prefecture Route 6 – Mutsu, Cape ShiriyaCurrent northern terminus
0.00.0—Mutsu National Route 279 (Mutsu Bypass)
National Route 338 (Ōminato Bypass)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. "下北半島縦貫道路｜青森県庁ウェブサイト Aomori Prefectural Government". www.pref.aomori.lg.jp.
  2. "General Route 279 Shimokita Peninsula Junction Road notice of "Fukkoshi bypass" opening｜青森県庁ウェブサイト Aomori Prefectural Government" (PDF). www.pref.aomori.lg.jp.
  3. "Japan's Expressway Numbering System". www.mlit.go.jp.
  4. Yamaguchi, Mari (17 November 2015). "Fuel reprocessing plant in northern Japan delayed again, to 2018". The Japan Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  5. "Rokkasho-mura regional plan for disaster prevention" (PDF). www.rokkasho.jp. June 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  6. "下北道むつ南バイパスが一部開通" (in Japanese). 23 December 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  7. "縦貫道路パンフおもて｜青森県庁ウェブサイト Aomori Prefectural Government" (PDF). www.pref.aomori.lg.jp.
  8. "下北縦貫道の早期整備、自民党に要望／三村知事". 東奥日報 (in Japanese). 11 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  9. "下北縦貫道路野辺地－七戸　計画段階評価へ". 東奥日報 (in Japanese). 30 March 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  10. "県都青森市と八戸市を結ぶ上北自動車道の早期開通に向けて｜website=http://www.jiti.co.jp".

See also

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