Meishin Expressway
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The Meishin Expressway (名神高速道路 Meishin Kōsoku-dōro?) is a toll expressway in Japan. It runs from a junction with the Tomei Expressway in Nagakute, Aichi (outside Nagoya) west to Nishinomiya, Hyogo (between Osaka and Kobe). It is the main road link between Osaka and Nagoya, and, along with the Tomei Expressway, forms the main road link between Osaka and Tokyo. East of the Chūgoku Expressway near Osaka, it is part of Asian Highway 1.
The part east of interchange 29 (Yokaichi) is owned by the Central Nippon Expressway Company; the rest is owned by the West Nippon Expressway Company.
The Meishin Expressway was the first expressway in Japan, with a section near Osaka and Kyoto opening July 16, 1963.
The Meishin Expressway parallels the old Nakasendō between Kyoto and Nagoya, now Route 8 and Route 21. The Meihan National Highway is a mostly non-tolled freeway between Osaka and Nagoya, lying further south and built to lower standards. The Second Meishin Expressway is an under-construction route between Osaka and Nagoya, lying between the two other high-speed roads, that will connect to the Second Tomei Expressway (via the Isewangan Expressway) and the Sanyō Expressway. It roughly parallels the old Tōkaidō (Route 1).
During the Great Hanshin Earthquake of January 17, 1995, the Meishin Expressway was lightly damaged but could only be used by emergency vehicles for weeks after the earthquake. It was the only remaining link between Osaka and Kobe for some time after the quake.
[edit] Exit list
Interchanges not yet opened are shown with a red background. Exit numbers continue from the sequence of the Tomei Expressway.
| Number | km | Name | Intersecting routes | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Komaki (小牧) | Nagoya Expressway Route 11; Route 41 | April 25, 1968 | ||
| 25 | Ichinomiya (一宮) | Nagoya Expressway Route 16; Route 22 | September 6, 1964 | ||
| 25-1 | Ichinomiya Junction (一宮) | Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway | December 13, 1998 | ||
| 25-2 | Gifu Hashima (岐阜羽島) | March 24, 1983 | |||
| 26 | Ogaki (大垣) | Route 258 | September 6, 1964 | ||
| Yoro Junction (養老) | Tōkai Ring Expressway (planned) | ||||
| 27 | Sekigahara (関ヶ原) | Route 365 | April 12, 1964 | ||
| 27-1 | Maibara Junction (米原) | Hokuriku Expressway | April 7, 1980 | ||
| 28 | Hikone (彦根) | Route 306/Route 307 | April 12, 1964 | ||
| 29 | Yokaichi (八日市) | Route 421 | April 12, 1964 | ||
| 29-1 | Ryuo (竜王) | Route 477 | August 28, 1981 | ||
| 30 | Ritto (栗東) | Route 1/Route 8 | July 16, 1963 | ||
| 30-1 | Kusatsu Junction (草津) | Second Meishin Expressway connection | March 19, 2005 | ||
| 30-2 | Seta Higashi (瀬田東 Seta East) | Keiji Bypass; Route 1 bypass | August 29, 1988 | westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| 30-2 | Seta Nishi (瀬田西 Seta West) | ?? | eastbound exit and westbound entrance | ||
| 31 | Otsu (大津) | July 16, 1963 | |||
| 32 | Kyoto Higashi (京都東 Kyoto East) | Route 1; Route 8 | July 16, 1963 | ||
| Kyoto Minami Junction (京都南 Kyoto South) | Kyoto Expressway (planned) | ||||
| 33 | Kyoto Minami (京都南 Kyoto South) | Route 1 | July 16, 1963 | split into 33-1 and 33-2 eastbound | |
| 33-3 | Oyamazaki Junction (大山崎) | Keiji Bypass; Route 171; Trans-Kyoto Expressway (planned) | August 10, 2003 (local access December 24, 2003) | ||
| Takatsuki Second Junction (高槻第二) | Second Meishin Expressway connection (planned) | ||||
| 34 | Ibaraki (茨木) | Route 171 | July 16, 1963 | ||
| 35 | Suita Junction (吹田) | Chūgoku Expressway; Kinki Expressway | March 1, 1970 | ||
| 36 | Toyonaka (豊中) | Hanshin Expressway Route 11 | July 16, 1963 | ||
| 37 | Amagasaki (尼崎) | July 16, 1963 | |||
| 38 | Nishinomiya (西宮) | Hanshin Expressway Route 3; Route 43 | September 6, 1964 | westbound exit and eastbound entrance |
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