Existed: 1987 – present Length 161.8 km | Constructed 1987 | |
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From: Yokawa Junction in Miki, Hyōgo
Chūgoku Expressway To: Tsuruga Junction in Tsuruga, Fukui
Hokuriku Expressway Major cities Maizuru, Fukuchiyama, Obama, Sasayama, Sanda | ||
The Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway (舞鶴若狭自動車道, Maizuru-Wakasa Jidōsha-dō) is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by West Nippon Expressway Company.
Contents
Map of Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway, Japan
Overview
Officially the expressway is referred to as the Kinki Expressway Tsuruga Route. This designation consists of the entire Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway as well as the Chūgoku Expressway beyond Yokawa Junction to Suita Junction.
The route of the expressway connects the coastline of the Japan Sea and the greater Osaka urban area by traversing the mountainous interior of the Kinki region.
The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 1987 and the entire route was completed in 2014.
Using the expressway to travel between the Chūgoku Expressway, Sanyō Expressway and Hokuriku Expressway is shorter and cheaper than using expressways that traverse a route via the greater Osaka urban area.
The expressway is 4 lanes from Yokawa Junction to Fukuchiyama Interchange and Ayabe Interchange to Ayabe Parking Area and the remainder is 2 lanes. Construction to expand the route to 4 lanes is currently underway on the section between Fukuchiyama Interchange and Ayabe Interchange and Ayabe Parking Area and Maizuru-Nishi Interchange. The speed limit is 80 km/h on 4-laned sections and 70 km/h on 2-laned sections.