The is one of the expressways of Japan from

Kitakyūshū is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, Kitakyushu has an estimated population of 940,978, making it the second-largest city in both Fukuoka Prefecture and the island of Kyushu after the city of Fukuoka. It is one o ...

(and the bridge to

Honshū , historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island sepa ...

) to east of

Kagoshima , abbreviated to , is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Located at the southwestern tip of the island of Kyushu, Kagoshima is the largest city in the prefecture by some margin. It has been nicknamed the "Naples of the Eastern wor ...

linking with the

Kyushu Expressway (Asian Highway Network ) is one of the Expressways of Japan from Kitakyūshū (and the bridge to Honshū) to west of Kagoshima linking with the Higashikyushu Expressway and the Ibusuki Skyline. It runs through the prefectures of Fukuoka, the ...

. It runs north to south, through the prefectures of

Fukuoka is the sixth-largest city in Japan, the second-largest port city after Yokohama, and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The city is built along the shores of Hakata Bay, and has been a center of international commerce since anc ...

, Oita, Miyazaki and the

prefectures. The freeway runs entirely on the island of

Kyūshū is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...

. The total length is 500 km.

Overview

The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 1999. As of March 2009 the expressway incomplete in many areas. The next section is scheduled to open in 2010 ( Soo Yagorō Interchange to

Sueyoshi Takarabe Interchange Sueyoshi (written: ) is a Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Amy Sueyoshi Amy Sueyoshi is the provost of San Francisco State University. Sueyoshi is a trained historian specializing in sexuality, gender, and race. Her p ...

). After this, Most of the incomplete areas will be built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby the burden for construction costs will be shared by the national and local governments and no tolls will be collected. Currently the section between Saiki Interchange and

Nobeoka Minami Interchange is a city located in the north of Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan. As of June 1, 2019, the city has an estimated population of 119,521 and a population density of 138 persons per km². The total area is . History The city was officially founded o ...

, and

Kanoya Kushira Junction is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. It is located in the southeastern Kyushu region in the central part of Ōsumi Peninsula. Kanoya is the most populous city in Japan without any connection to railway services, after the abolition of the ...

and Sueyoshi Takarabe Interchange operates according to this principle. The expressway is 4 lanes from Kitakyushu Junction to

Kanda Kitakyushu-kūkō Interchange Kanda may refer to: People * Kanda (surname) *Kanda Bongo Man (born 1955), Congolese soukous musician Places *Kanda, Tokyo, an area in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan **Kanda Station (Tokyo), a railway station in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo *Kanda River, a rive ...

and

Hiji Junction is a town located in Hayami District, Ōita Prefecture, Japan. As of March 2017, the town has an estimated population of 28,524 and the density of 390 persons per km2. The total area is 73.32 km2. Geography Hiji is located within the ea ...

Ōita Miyagawachi Interchange Oita often refers to: *Ōita Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan *Ōita (city), the capital of the prefecture Oita or Ōita may also refer to: Places * Ōita District, Ōita, a former district in Ōita Prefecture, Japan * Ōita Stadium, a multi-use stadi ...

, and 2 lanes for all remaining sections. The route parallels the Nippō Main Line of Kyushu Railway Company and National Route 10 for much of its length.

History

* December 15, 1994, a section from Hiji Junction to Hayami Interchange was opened to traffic. * November 27, 1999, a section from Oita Mera to Oita Miyagawachi Interchanges was opened to traffic. * March 4, 2000, a section from Kokubu to Hayato Higashi Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway. * March 25, 2000, a section from Miyazaki Nishi Interchange to Kiyotake Junction was opened to traffic. * March 31, 2001, a section from Saito to Miyazaki Nishi Interchange was opened to traffic. * April 18, 2001, the Oita Nogyo Bunka Koen Interchange was opened. * December 19, 2001, the Kajiki Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway. * December 27, 2001, a section from Oita Miyagawachi to Tsukumi Interchanges was opened to traffic. * March 2, 2002, a section from Sueyoshi Takarabe to Kokubu Interchanges was opened to traffic. * March 30, 2002, the Hiji Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway. * February 26, 2006, a section from Kitakyushu Junction to Kanda Kitakyushu Airport Interchange was opened to traffic. * June 28, 2008, a section from Tsukumi to Saiki Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 14, 2010, a section from Soo Yagoro to Sueyoshi Takarabe Interchange was opened to traffic. * July 17, 2010, a section from Takanabe to Saito Interchange was opened to traffic. * December 14, 2010, a section from Kadogawa to Hyuga Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway. * December 15, 2012, a section from Sumie to Kitagawa Interchange was opened to traffic. * December 22, 2012, a section from Tsuno to Takanabe Interchange was opened to traffic. * February 16, 2013, a section from Kamae to Kitaura Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 23, 2013, a section from Kiyotake Junction to Kiyotake Minami Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 8, 2014, a section from Kitaura to Sumie Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 16, 2014, a section from Hyuga to Tsuno Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 23, 2014, a section from Kanda Kitakyushu Airport to Yukuhashi Interchange was opened to traffic. * December 13, 2014, a section from Yukuhashi to Miyako Toyotsu Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway. * December 13, 2014, the Shiida Minami Interchange was opened. * December 21, 2014, a section from Kanoya Kushira Junction to Soo Yagoro Interchange was opened to traffic. * December 21, 2014, the Kanoya Kushira Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway. * March 1, 2015, a section from Buzen to Usa Interchanges was opened to traffic with another freeway. * March 21, 2015, a section from Saiki to Kamae Interchanges was opened to traffic. * April 28, 2015, the Imagawa Parking Area and the Yukuhashi Imagawa Bus Stop was opened. * April 24, 2016, a section from Shiida Minami to Buzen Interchange was opened to traffic which made the Higashikyushu Expressway from Kitakyushu to Miyazaki fully accessible with no gaps. * March 25, 2017, the Kadogawa Minami Smart Interchange was opened. * March 11, 2018, a section from Nishinan Kitago to Nichinan Togo Interchanges was opened to traffic. * August 5, 2018, a section from Hiji Junction to Oita Mera Interchange is incorporated as part of the Higashikyushu Expressway. * August 5, 2018, the Beppuwan Smart Interchange was fully accessible. * October 6, 2019, the Kunitomi Smart Interchange was opened.

Interchanges

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT -

junction Junction may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Junction'' (film), a 2012 American film * Jjunction, a 2002 Indian film * Junction (album), a 1976 album by Andrew Cyrille * Junction (EP), by Basement Jaxx, 2002 * Junction (manga), or ''Hot ...

, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS -

bus stop A bus stop is a place where buses stop for passengers to get on and off the bus. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage, where stops at busy locations may have shelters, seating, and possibly electronic passenger ...

, TN - tunnel, BR -

bridge A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or rail) without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually someth ...

, TB -

toll gate Toll Gate or Tollgate may refer to: * Toll gate, a barrier across a toll road or toll bridge that is lifted when the toll is paid Entertainment * "Tollgate" (Hale single) * '' The Toll-Gate'', a 1954 novel by Georgette Heyer * '' The Toll Gate' ...

Overview

History

Interchanges

Between Kitakyushu Junction and Aburatsu Interchange

Between Aburatsu and Natsui Interchanges

Between Shibushi Interchange and Kajiki Junction