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  4. E76 Nishi-Seto Expressway (Setouchi Shimanami Expressway)

E76 Nishi-Seto Expressway (Setouchi Shimanami Expressway)

A road crossing the Geiyo islands

A 46.6km toll road that threads its way through the Geiyo Islands where the "Murakami Pirates", the strongest in the Seto Inland Sea, once had brave adventures. This expressway, with a total length of 59.4 km directly connected with the Ikuchi-jima road (6.5 km) and the Ohshima road (6.3 km) maintained by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, is affectionately known as the "Setouchi Shimanami Expressway". On bridges other than the Shin-Onomichi Bridge, there is also tracks exclusively for use by motor-assisted bicycles and pedestrians from Onomichi to Imabari, and as well as its role as a connecting road linking Honshu and Shikoku, it serves a major role as a community road for the people living on the islands.

Details Between Nishi-Seto Onomichi IC and Ikuchijima-Kita IC
1. Route name National Route 317
2. Section in operation From: 1219-10, Aza-Saigakubo, Takasu town, Onomichi city, Hiroshima Pref. (Nishiseto-Onomichi IC)
To: 580-2, Aza-Fukakubo, Innoshima-Sunoe town, Onomichi city, Hiroshima Pref. (Ikuchijima-Kita IC)
3. Length

18.0km
Number of bridges: 21, Total length: 5.7 km (Among them, Shin-Onomichi Bridge 546 m, Innoshima Bridge 1,270 m, Ikuchi Bridge 790 m)
Earthwork section 12.3 km

4. Construction costs Approx. 37 billion yen (Shin-Onomichi Bridge-related section)
Approx. 68 billion yen (Innoshima Bridge-related section)
Approx. 44 billion yen (Ikuchi Bridge-related section)
5. Start of service December 4, 1983 Between Mukaihigashi Ramp and Innoshima IC
December 8, 1991 Between Innoshima-Minami IC and Ikuchijima-Kita IC
April 1, 1998 Between Ikuchijima-Kita IC and Innoshima-Minami IC
March 13, 1999 Nishiseto-Onomichi IC and Onomichi Ohashi Ramp (4 lanes)
May 1, 1999 Onomichi-Ohashi Ramp and Mukaihigashi Ramp
6. Service status

National Highway with access control
Number of lanes: 2 (4 lanes in certain sections), Speed limit: 70km/h

Motorized bicycle, bicycle and pedestrian way
Innoshima Bridge-related section
  Width 4 m
  Length 1.4 km
Ikuchi Bridge-related section
  Width 2.5 m
  Lengths: 1.2 km (bicycles, pedestrians), 1.4 km (motorized bicycle)

Mukaihigashi Ramp Disused on May 1, 1999 when all portions were put in service

Shin-Onomichi Bridge
(Completed in 1999)
Cable stayed bridge (Total length: 546 m, Center span: 215 m)
Innoshima Bridge
(Completed in 1983)
Suspension bridge (Total length: 1,270 m, Center span: 770 m)
Ikuchi Bridge
(Completed in 1991)
Cable stayed bridge (Total length: 790 m, Center span: 490 m)
Details Between Ikuchijima-Minami IC and Ohshima-Kita IC
1. Route name National Route 317

2. Section in operation

From: 986, Aza-Hosenbara, Ogi, Setoda town, Onomichi city, Hiroshima Pref. (Ikuchijima-Minami IC)
To: 4658-2, Miyakubo, Miyakubo town, Imabari city, Ehime Pref. (Ohshima-Kita IC)

3. Length

16.1km
Number of bridges: 26, Total length: 5.8 km (Among them, Tatara Bridge 1,480 m, Ohmishima Bridge 328 m, Hakata-Oshima Bridge 1,230 m)
Number of tunnels: 1, Total length: 1.4 km (Miyakubo tunnel 1,420 m)
Earthworks section 8.9 km

4. Construction costs

Approx. 130 billion yen (Tatara Bridge-related section)
Approx. 19 billion yen (Ohmishima Bridge-related section)
Approx. 41 billion yen (Hakata-Oshima Bridge-related section)

5. Start of service

May 13, 1979 Between Ohmishima IC and Hakatajima IC
January 17, 1988 Between Hakatajima IC and Ohshima-Kita IC
May 1, 1999 Between Ikuchijima-Minami IC and Ohmishima IC

6. Service status

National Highway with access control
Number of lanes: 2 (4 lanes in certain sections), Speed limit: 70km/h

Motorized bicycle, bicycle and pedestrian way
Tatara Bridge-related section
  Width 2.5 m each
  Length 1.5 km
Ohmishima Bridge-related section
  Width 4 m
  Length 0.7km
Hakata-Ohshima Bridge-related section
  Width 4 m
  Length 1.5 km

Tatara Bridge
(Completed in 1999)
Cable stayed bridge (Total length: 1,480 m, Center span: 890 m)
Ohmishima Bridge
(Completed in 1979)
Arch bridge (Total length: 328 m, Center span: 297 m)
Hakata-Ohshima Bridge
(Completed in 1988)
Hakata Bridge: Steel box girder bridge (Total length: 325 m, Center span: 145 m)
Ohshima Bridge: Suspension bridge (Total length: 840 m, Center span: 560 m)
Details Between Ohshima-Minami IC and Imabari IC
1. Route name National Route 317

2. Section in operation

From: 3614-1, Myo, Yoshiumi town, Imabari city, Ehime Pref. (Ohshima-Minami IC)
To: 150, Aza-Sugegatani, Yata, Imabari city, Ehime Pref. (Imabari IC)

3. Length

12.5km
Number of bridges: 8, Total length: 7.0 km
(Among them, First, Second and Third Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridges are 960 m, 1,515 m and 1,570 m, respectively)
Number of tunnels: 2, Total length: 1.5 km (Yoshiumi Tunnel 356 m, Chikamiyama Tunnel 1,138 m)
Earthwork section 4.0 km

4. Construction costs

Approx. 330 billion yen (Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridges-related section)

5. Start of service

May 1, 1999 Between Ohshima-Minami IC and Imabari IC

6. Service status

National Highway with access control
Number of lanes: 2 (4 lanes in certain sections), Speed limit: 70km/h

Motorized bicycle, bicycle and pedestrian way
Width 2.5 m each
Length 3.8 km

Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridges
(Completed in 1999)
1st Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge: Suspension bridge (Total length: 960 m, Center span: 600 m)
2nd Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge : Suspension bridge (Total length: 1,515 m, Center span: 1,020 m)
3rd Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge: Suspension bridge (Total length: 1,570 m, Center span: 1,030 m)

See here for Shimanami Expressway sightseeing and event information

Shimanami Expressway
You can see an introduction to the Shimanami Expressway (Nishi-Seto Expressway), sightseeing and event information, and blogs by staffs working for the Shimanami Expressway.

Road closure informationMar 19, 2024, 04:30 pm present date

  • There is no road closure.

  • There is no road closure
    to motorcycle traffic.

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