Hokuriku Expressway

Infobox_road
highway_name = Hokuriku Expressway (北陸自動車道)
marker_



length = 476.5 km [cite web| url= http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/road/time/h_hokuriku1.html | title= Road Timetable |author= Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Kinki Regional Development Bureau | accessdate= 2008-04-16 ]
established = 1972 [cite web| url= http://www2.tokai.or.jp/stt/road/expwyopn.html | title= Expressway Opening Dates | accessdate= 2008-04-16 ]
first_open =
starting_terminus = Niigata-Chūō Junction in Niigata, Niigata

cities = Nagaoka, Jōetsu, Uozu, Toyama, Kanazawa, Komatsu, Fukui, Sabae, Echizen, Tsuruga, Nagahama
ending_terminus = Maibara Junction in Maibara, Shiga
The nihongo|Hokuriku Expressway|北陸自動車道|Hokuriku Jidōsha-dō, (abbreviated as nihongo|Hokuriku Expwy|北陸道|Hokurikudō, is a 4-laned national expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company and Central Nippon Expressway Company.

Overview

The first section was opened in 1972 by Japan Highway Public Corporation and construction proceeded in stages until the entire route was completed in 1988. [cite web| url= http://www.hrr.mlit.go.jp/road/miti_eki/each_folder/oyasiraz/oyasiraz.html | title= Oyashirazu Pia Park Profile |author= Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau | accessdate= 2008-04-16 ] On October 1, 2005, all national expressways were privatized [cite web| url= http://www.ersa.org/ersaconfs/ersa06/papers/226.pdf | title= Privatization of the Japan Highway Public Corporation: Policy Assessment | accessdate= 2008-04-11 | format=pdf] and management of the Hokuriku Expressway was divided between the East and Central Nippon Expressway Companies. [cite web| url= http://www.c-nexco.co.jp/english/pdf/nexco_english.pdf | title= NEXCO-Central Business Outline | accessdate= 2008-04-13 | format=pdf]

The route serves the Hokuriku region on the north central coast of Honshū, Japan's largest island. For most of its length it parallels National Route 8 and the Hokuriku Main Line of West Japan Railway Company.

Although the route officially originates in Niigata and terminates at Maibara, exit numbers and kilometer markings originate from Maibara.

Features

Around Tsuruga Interchange, the south-bound lanes cross over the north-bound lanes and diverges drastically. The expressway rejoins normally at a point near Suizu Parking Area.

There are 14 tunnels between Kinomoto Interchange and Takebu Interchange (two of which are longer than 2,000 m), and 26 tunnels between Asahi Interchange and Jōetsu Interchange (eight of which are longer than 2,000 m).

List of interchanges and features

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS - bus stop, TN - tunnel, CB - snow chains

References

External links

*ja icon [http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/ East Nippon Expressway Company]
* [http://www.c-nexco.co.jp/english/ Central Nippon Expressway Company]