TheMichinoku Toll Road(みちのく hữu liêu đạo lộMichinoku Yūryōdōro) is atwo-lanetoll road inAomori Prefectureconnecting the citiesAomoriandHachinoheviaShichinohe.It serves as an alternative toJapan National Route 4,bypassing the townsHiranaiandNohejiby cutting directly through theHakkōda Mountainsand other mountains of the northernŌu Mountain Range.The road is managed by the Aomori Prefecture Road Corporation and is numberedE4Aas an extension of theTōhoku Expressway.[1][2]
 | |
|---|---|
 みちのく hữu liêu đạo lộ(Michinoku Yūryōdōro) | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by Aomori Prefecture Road Corporation | |
| Length | 21.52 km (13.37 mi) |
| Existed | November 13, 1980–present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end | Aomori.Aomori Prefecture Route 123 to theAomori-higashi Interchangeof Aomori Expressway |
| East end | Shichinohe.Aomori Prefecture Route 242 to National Route 4 |
| Location | |
| Country | Japan |
| Highway system | |
Tolls
edit
The toll gate for the Michinoku Toll Road does not accept ETC payment. The tolls are set to expire in 2029.[3]
Route description
editFrom Aomori, the Michinoku Toll Road begins 2 kilometers east of theAomori-higashi Interchange.The connection between the two routes is made by Aomori Prefecture Route 123, which makes its way north to Hiranai at the beginning of the Michinoku Toll Road. The speed limit for the toll road is 60 km/h. As it ascends into the Hakkoda Mountains heading east, going through a short tunnel. Just ahead of the tunnel is the road's toll booth. There are two gates servicing traffic in each direction. After the booth, the route continues ascending until it reaches the 3 kilometer long Michinoku Tunnel at 875 feet above sea level. This tunnel parallels theHakkōda Tunnel,the longest double-tracked, single-tube terrestrial railway tunnel in the world.[4]In the tunnel, the speed limit drops to 50 km/h and vehicles under 50cc are not allowed use it. At the halfway point of the tunnel drivers cross from Aomori to Schichinohe. After the tunnel the road crosses over and meets Aomori Prefecture Route 242. This road can be used to bypass the toll gate, albeit by meandering through the mountains on a gravel road and are seldom used due to the difficulty to pass through. Heading east Aomori Route 242 runs concurrent or parallel to the toll road. However, these parallel roads are hardly used at the moment, and there are places where it is extremely difficult to pass through. From the tunnel onward, the route descends from the mountains making its way to its end at a red bridge over the Shichinohe River. The road continues from here solely as Aomori Route 242 to National Route 4.
History
editThe Michinoku Toll Road opened on November 13, 1980 at a cost of ¥21 billion. Before the opening of theSakanashi Tunnelon the Tōhoku Expressway in 1986, the toll road was utilized the main expressway route connecting Aomori andMorioka.[5]There was a rest stop near the toll gate, but it was removed in 2009. On January 19, 2010 it was decided to extended the tolling period until 2029 due to issues paying off debts incurred.[6] From February 1 to 2, 2012, the road was made free to through traffic from Aomori to Shichinohe because of heavy snowfall along National Route 4 in Hiranai and Noheji.[7]
Future
editThe Michinoku Toll Road will meet theKamikita ExpresswayatNational Route 4in Shichinohe. This will give direct access to theDaini-Michinoku Toll Road,and theHachinohe Expresswayas a single highway connecting theHachinoheandAomori Expressways.There are no plans yet to upgrade the connection between the Michinoku Toll Road and Aomori Expressway. However, the highway will function as a single extension of the Tōhoku Expressway with sections managed by both the Aomori Prefecture Road Corporation andEast Nippon Expressway Companybased on who built them.[8][9]
Junction list
edit
The entire toll road is inAomori Prefecture.
| Location | km | mi | Exit | Name | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aomori | 0 | 0.0 | 56 | Aomori-higashi | Aomori Expressway–Aomori-chūō,Morioka | West terminus of the toll road. Aomori Prefecture Route 123 continues west to Aomori-higashi IC and National Route 4 | |
| Shichinohe | 16.5 | 10.3 | — | Aomori-Takisawa | Aomori Prefecture Route 242 – to  National Route 103/National Route 394;Hakkōda Mountains | If Route 242 is used driving west on the toll road, no tolls are required. However, the road is not paved. | |
| 21.5 | 13.4 | — | — | Aomori Prefecture Route 242 – toNational Route 4 | East terminus of the toll road at the Shin Tsubokawa Bridge crossing over the Shichinohe River. Aomori Prefecture Route 242 continues east to National Route 4. | ||
| 27 | 17 | — | Tenmabayashi[10] |  National Route 279/Kamikita Expressway(Shimokita Expressway) – toHachinohe,Mutsu | Under construction as of February 2019. | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
| |||||||
See also
edit
External links
edit- (in Japanese)East Nippon Expressway Company
References
edit- ^http://www.aodoko.or.jp/yuryo/mitinoku.html:Michinoku Toll Road- Aomori Prefecture Road Corporation website
- ^http://www.mlit.go.jp/road/sign/numbering/list/index.html:"Highway numbering list". Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Browse May 15, 2017.
- ^"みちのく hữu liêu đạo lộ liêu kim trưng thâu kỳ gian の diên trường について"(in Japanese). 6 February 2019. Archived fromthe originalon 21 August 2011.
- ^"Hakkoda Tunnel – The longest land-based double track tunnel in the world".The World's Greatest Japanese. 2008-02-17. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-13.Retrieved2010-06-18.
- ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2017-12-07.Retrieved2017-12-07.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^"Archived copy"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2012-06-21.Retrieved2017-10-25.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^RAB 'Today too! Asposepuri' traffic information
- ^"Quá khứ のイベント nhất lãm - thanh sâm huyện sảnh ホームページ".www.pref.aomori.lg.jp.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-04-30.
- ^"Thanh sâm hà xuyên quốc đạo sự vụ sở “みち” のひろば quốc đạo 45 hào thượng bắc thiên gian lâm đạo lộ ・ thiên gian lâm đạo lộ ".Archived fromthe originalon 2018-07-05.Retrieved2017-10-25.
- ^"Đông bắc địa phương chỉnh bị cục thanh sâm hà xuyên quốc đạo sự vụ sở".