The is one of the expressways of Japan which goes from

Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan 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 ancient times. ...

to Takeo, running through the prefecture of

Saga Sagas are prose stories and histories, composed in Iceland and to a lesser extent elsewhere in Scandinavia. The most famous saga-genre is the (sagas concerning Icelanders), which feature Viking voyages, migration to Iceland, and feuds between ...

and the northern half of the

Nagasaki Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan, mainly located on the island of Kyūshū, although it also includes a number of islands off Kyūshū's northwest coast - including Tsushima and Iki. Nagasaki Prefecture has a population of 1,246,4 ...

. The total length is 150 km. Part of the road is specified as Route 497. This road has two toll zones. The Fukuoka and Maebaru toll zone is managed by Fukuoka Prefectural Road Public Corporation. The Takeo and Sasebo toll zone is managed by West Nippon Expressway Company. The other roadway is managed by

MLIT The , abbreviated MLIT, is a ministry of the Japanese government.国土交通省設置法

. This road is connected to Fukuoka Expressway Circular Route in

Nishi-ku, Fukuoka is one of the seven Wards of Japan, wards of Fukuoka City, Japan. Meaning literally "west ward," it is bordered to the east by Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Sawara-ku, and to the west by Itoshima, Fukuoka, Itoshima. As of 2003, it has a population of 173,81 ...

, and to Nagasaki Expressway in Takeo. From Nijō to Nijō Shika Interchange this expressway overlaps a section of Nijō Hamatama road.

Overview

The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 1988. As of April 2016 the expressway was incomplete in many areas. The next sections were scheduled to open in 2017 ( Minamihata Taniguchi Interchange to Imari Higashi Interchange) and ( Imabuku Interchange to Tsukinokawa Interchange). After this, most of the incomplete areas were to 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 were to be collected. Currently the section between Nijō Shikaka Interchange and Minamihata Taniguchi Interchange, Yamashiro Kubara Interchange and Imabuku Interchange, and Saza Interchange and Sasebo Daitō Interchange operates according to this principle. The expressway is four lanes wide from Fukushige Junction to Higashi Intersection (temporary interchange) and Saza Interchange to Sasebo Chūō Interchange, and two lanes for all remaining sections.

History

* March 24, 1988, a section from Sasebo Daitō to Hasami Arita Interchanges was opened to traffic. * November 30, 1989, a section from Hasami Arita to Takeo Minami Interchange was opened to traffic. * January 26, 1990, a section from Takeo Minami Interchange to Takeo Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway. * March 26, 1993, a section from Susenji Interchange to Higashi Intersection (temporary interchange) was opened to traffic. * April 17, 1998, a section from Sasebo Minato to Sasebo Daitō Interchange was opened to traffic. * September 26, 1998, a section from Jyūrokuchō to Susenji Interchanges was opened to traffic. * October 13, 2001, a section from Fukushige Junction to Jyūrokuchō Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway. * November 2003, a section from Fukushige Junction to Maebaru Interchange which made with four lanes. * December 18, 2005, a section from Hamatama to Karatsu Interchange was opened to traffic. * December 12, 2009, a section from Nijō Shikaka to Hamatama Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway. * March 20, 2010, a section from Ainoura Nakazato to Sasebo Minato Interchanges was opened to traffic. * February 26, 2011, a section from Fukushige Junction to the east was opened with other freeway. * September 13, 2011, a section from Saza to Ainoura Nakazato Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 24, 2012, a section from Karatsu to Karatsu Chichika Yamada Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 23, 2013, a section from Karatsu Chichika Yamada to Kitahata Interchange was opened to traffic. * February 1, 2015, a section from Kitahata to Minamihata Taniguchi Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 14, 2015, a section from Yamashiro Kubara to Imabuku Interchange was opened to traffic. * November 5, 2017, a section from Imabuku to Tsukinokawa Interchange was opened to traffic. * March 31, 2018, a section from Minamihata Taniguchi to Imari Higashi Interchange was opened to traffic. * December 15, 2018, a section from Tsukinokawa to Matsuura Interchange was opened to traffic.

Interchanges

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS -

bus stop A bus stop is a place where Public transport bus service, 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 shelter (building), shelters ...

, TN -

tunnel A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...

, BR -

bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...

, TB - toll gate * Bus stops labeled "○" are currently in use; those marked "◆" are closed. {{DEFAULTSORT:Nishikyushu Expressway Expressways in Japan Kyushu region Roads in Fukuoka Prefecture Roads in Nagasaki Prefecture Roads in Saga Prefecture 1988 establishments in Japan