Nikkō Utsunomiya Road

The Nikkō Utsunomiya Road (日光宇都宮道路, Nikkō Utsunomiya Dōro) is a toll road in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. It is signed E81 under the "2016 Proposal for Realization of Expressway Numbering."[2]

Nikkō Utsunomiya Road
E81 日光宇都宮道路
Route information
Maintained by Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation
Length30.7 km[1] (19.1 mi)
Existed1976[1]–present
Component
highways
National Route 119
National Route 120
Major junctions
FromUtsunomiya Interchange
National Route 119 / Tōhoku Expressway in Utsunomiya
ToKiyotaki Interchange
National Route 120 in Nikkō
Location
CountryJapan
Highway system

Route description

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The road is the main access route for the city of Nikkō, a popular getaway for tourists in the northern part of Tochigi Prefecture. It connects directly to the Tōhoku Expressway which leads to the greater Tokyo area and points to the north in the Tōhoku region. The road is officially designated as a bypass for National Route 119 (Utsunomiya Interchange to Nikkō Interchange) and National Route 120 (Nikkō Interchange to Kiyotaki Interchange). The road is designated for motor vehicles only (自動車専用道路, Jidōsha Senyō Dōro) (motor vehicles must have a displacement of at least 125 cc). The design standard of the road is similar to most national expressways in Japan. The road has four lanes on the section designated as National Route 119 with a speed limit of 80 km/h, and two lanes on the section designated as National Route 120 with a speed limit of 60 km/h.[1]

History

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The first section of the road was opened to traffic in 1976 and the entire route was completed in 1981.[1] It was originally built and managed by Japan Highway Public Corporation, however ownership was transferred to Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation in 2005.[3] Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) was implemented at toll stations following the transfer, and discounted fares were introduced for off-season (December to April)[4] and off-peak (17:00-09:00) travel.[5]

List of interchanges and features

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The route lies entirely within Tochigi Prefecture.

LocationkmmiExitNameDestinationsNotes
Utsunomiya0.00.0Utsunomiya  Tōhoku Expressway – to Kita-Kantō Expressway, Fukushima, Tokyo
   National Route 119 east (Utsunomiya-kita Road) – to National Route 4, Oyama, Tochigi
Eastern terminus of E81; highway continues east as the Utsunomiya-kita Road; E4 exit 10
1.60.991Tokujira  National Route 293 – Kanuma, Ōya, Nikkō, Sakura
5.13.21-1Shinoi  Tochigi Prefecture Route 149 (Okorogawa Fubasami Ishinada Route) – to National Route 119, FubasamiWestbound exit, eastbound entrance only
Nikkō11.27.02 / TBŌsawaTochigi Prefecture Route 110 (Shimotsuke Ōsawa Teishajō Route) – Nikkō, Utsunomiya, Shimotsuke-Ōsawa Station
15.49.62-1Dosawa    National Route 121 / National Route 352 (Itabashi Bypass) – to National Route 119, Nikkō Industrial Park, Nikkō, Kinugawa, Kanuma, Ōsawa
19.812.33Imaichi  National Route 121 / Tochigi Prefecture Route 70 (Utsunomiya Imaichi Route) – Okoregawa, Central Nikkō
22.213.8PANikkōguchi
24.715.34 / TBNikkō  Unnamed city street – to National Route 119 (Nikkō Kaidō)
  National Route 119 east
  National Route 120 west
Western terminus of National Route 119, eastern terminus of National Route 120
30.719.15Kiyotaki   National Route 120 / National Route 122 – Lake Chūzenji, Ashio, Central NikkōWestern terminus of E81
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. "Nikko Utsunomiya Road Design" (PDF). Archived from the original (pdf) on November 17, 2006. Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  2. ^ "Japan's Expressway Numbering System". www.mlit.go.jp.
  3. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation Website (Company Information)". Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  4. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation Website (Nikko Utsunomiya Road Information)". Retrieved 2008-05-16.
  5. ^ "Tochigi Prefecture Road Public Corporation Website (Toll Information)". Retrieved 2008-05-16.
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