Okayama Expressway

Okayama Expressway sign
Okayama Expressway
E73 岡山自動車道
Route information
Length43.9 km (27.3 mi)
Existed1991–present
Major junctions
FromOkayama Junction in Kita-ku, Okayama
Sanyō Expressway
ToHokubō Junction in Maniwa, Okayama
Chūgoku Expressway
Location
CountryJapan
Major citiesTakahashi
Highway system

The Okayama Expressway (岡山自動車道, Okayama Jidōsha-dō) is a national expressway in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by West Nippon Expressway Company.

Naming

The expressway is officially referred to as the Chūgoku-Ōdan Expressway Okayama Yonago Route. The Chūgoku-Ōdan Expressway Okayama Yonago Route is the official designation for the Sanyō Expressway between Okayama Interchange and Okayama Junction, the Okayama Expressway between Okayama Junction and Hokubō Junction, the Chūgoku Expressway between Hokubō Junction and Ochiai Junction, and the Yonago Expressway between Ochiai Junction and Yonago Interchange (concurrent with the Chūgoku-Ōdan Expressway Okayama Yonago Route).

Overview

Okayama Expressway, Kibichūō Town, Kita

The first section of the expressway was opened in 1991. The final section of the expressway (41.2 km between Okayama-Sōja Interchange and Hokubō Junction) was opened on March 15, 1997. The route originates from its junction with the Sanyō Expressway and extends northward. At its northern terminus it connects to the Chūgoku Expressway.

The expressway is 4 lanes from Okayama Junction to Kayō Interchange and the remainder is 2 lanes. The speed limit is 80 km/h on 4-laned sections and 70 km/h on 2-laned sections.

List of interchanges and features

No. Name Connections Dist. from
Origin
Bus Stop Notes Location
(all in Okayama)
(15) Okayama JCT Sanyō Expressway 0.0 Kita-ku, Okayama
1 Okayama-Sōja IC National Route 180
National Route 429
2.7
PA Sōja PA 7.0 Sōja
TN Tōzaka Tunnel northbound: 1,450 m (4,760 ft)
southbound: 1,460 m (4,790 ft)
BR Minobe Bridge Length - 703 m
TN Makidani Tunnel northbound: 1,170 m (3,840 ft)
southbound: 1,070 m (3,510 ft)
2 Kayō IC National Route 484 22.6 Kibichūō
SA Takahashi SA 30.9
31.4
For Hokubō
for Okayama
Takahashi
3 Ukan IC Okayama Prefectural Road 49 35.5
TN Ukan Tunnel Length - 1,529 m (5,016 ft)
Maniwa
BS Hokubō Mizuta BS 43.1
(17) Hokubō JCT Chūgoku Expressway 43.9