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{{Short description|Motorway near Ginza}}
{{Short description|Motorway near Ginza}}
[[Image:Tokyo EXP way.JPG|thumb]]
[[Image:Tokyo EXP way.JPG|thumb]]
The {{nihongo|'''Tokyo Expressway'''|東京高速道路|Tōkyō Kōsoku Dōro}}, also known as the '''KK Route''', is a {{Convert|2.0|km|mi|sp=us|adj=mid|-long}} untolled expressway in central [[Tokyo]] owned and maintained by Tokyo Skyway Company (Tōkyō Kōsoku Dōro [[kabushiki gaisha|K.K.]]). It is signed as '''D8'''<ref>{{cite web|title=東京高速道路（D8）のご利用について|trans-title=How to use the Tokyo Expressway (D8)|url=https://www.shutoko.jp/use/network/kk/|language=ja|work=[[Shuto Expressway|Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited]]|date=n.d.|accessdate=21 December 2024}}}}</ref> It runs in a semicircular loop around the [[Ginza]] district of [[Chūō, Tokyo|Chūō-ku]]. The loop is closed by part of the [[Inner Circular Route]] of the [[Shuto Expressway]]. The majority of the expressway will be closed in 2025 to be converted into an [[elevated park]].
The {{nihongo|'''Tokyo Expressway'''|東京高速道路|Tōkyō Kōsoku Dōro}}, also known as the '''KK Route''', is a {{Convert|2.0|km|mi|sp=us|adj=mid|-long}} untolled expressway in central [[Tokyo]] owned and maintained by the Tokyo Expressway Company (Tōkyō Kōsoku Dōro [[kabushiki gaisha|K.K.]]). It is signed as '''D8'''<ref name="D8">{{cite web|title=東京高速道路（D8）のご利用について|trans-title=How to use the Tokyo Expressway (D8)|url=https://www.shutoko.jp/use/network/kk/|language=ja|work=[[Shuto Expressway|Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited]]|date=n.d.|accessdate=21 December 2024}}</ref> It runs in a semicircular loop around the [[Ginza]] district of [[Chūō, Tokyo|Chūō-ku]]. The loop is closed by part of the [[Inner Circular Route]] of the [[Shuto Expressway]]. The majority of the expressway will be closed in 2025 to be converted into an [[elevated park]].

==Route description==
The Tokyo Expressway is a {{Convert|2.0|km|mi|sp=us|adj=mid|-long}} privately-owned highway enclosing all but eastern edge of the Tokyo's [[Ginza]] district that is connected to the [[Inner Circular Route]] of the [[Shuto Expressway]] at both ends indirectly.<ref name="D8"/> The expressway is funded by rent collected by the Tokyo Expressway Company. Due to this business structure, unlike the majority of expressways in Japan, it is free for public use due to the rental income generated from the commercial spaces located underneath the right-of-way.<ref>{{cite web|title=Good vibrations: Tokyo’s only private highway|url=https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/special-reports/tokyos-only-private-highway/|work=Tokyo Reporter|date=27 June 2008|accessdate=21 December 2024}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
In 1951, 23 business leaders founded the Tokyo Expressway Company Limited with the goal of revitalizing [[Ginza]] after the war and easing congestion of automobile traffic. The expressway was built upon infill of the outer moat surrounding Ginza. Portions of the highway were opened in 1959, making it the oldest expressway in Japan. The Tokyo Expressway was completed in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|title=東京高速道路（ＫＫ線）の概要について|trans-title=Overview of the Tokyo Expressway (KK Route)|language=ja|url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/ir/ir-council/shutoko-kino-kakuho/pdf01/04.pdf|work=[[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]]|date=n.d.|accessdate=21 December 2024}}</ref>
In 1951, 23 business leaders founded the Tokyo Expressway Company Limited with the goal of revitalizing [[Ginza]] after the war and easing congestion of automobile traffic. The expressway was built upon infill of the outer moat surrounding Ginza. Portions of the highway were opened in 1959, making it the oldest expressway in Japan. The Tokyo Expressway was completed in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|title=東京高速道路（ＫＫ線）の概要について|trans-title=Overview of the Tokyo Expressway (KK Route)|language=ja|url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/ir/ir-council/shutoko-kino-kakuho/pdf01/04.pdf|work=[[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]]|date=n.d.|accessdate=21 December 2024}}</ref>


===Elevated park conversion===
===Elevated park conversion===

Revision as of 00:35, 22 December 2024

The Tokyo Expressway (東京高速道路, Tōkyō Kōsoku Dōro), also known as the KK Route, is a 2.0-kilometer-long (1.2 mi) untolled expressway in central Tokyo owned and maintained by the Tokyo Expressway Company (Tōkyō Kōsoku Dōro K.K.). It is signed as D8[1] It runs in a semicircular loop around the Ginza district of Chūō-ku. The loop is closed by part of the Inner Circular Route of the Shuto Expressway. The majority of the expressway will be closed in 2025 to be converted into an elevated park.

Route description

The Tokyo Expressway is a 2.0-kilometer-long (1.2 mi) privately-owned highway enclosing all but eastern edge of the Tokyo's Ginza district that is connected to the Inner Circular Route of the Shuto Expressway at both ends indirectly.[1] The expressway is funded by rent collected by the Tokyo Expressway Company. Due to this business structure, unlike the majority of expressways in Japan, it is free for public use due to the rental income generated from the commercial spaces located underneath the right-of-way.[2]

History

In 1951, 23 business leaders founded the Tokyo Expressway Company Limited with the goal of revitalizing Ginza after the war and easing congestion of automobile traffic. The expressway was built upon infill of the outer moat surrounding Ginza. Portions of the highway were opened in 1959, making it the oldest expressway in Japan. The Tokyo Expressway was completed in 1966.[3]

Elevated park conversion

In December 2023, it was decided by the Tokyo Expressway Company that the entire route would be permanently closed in April 2025 with the exception of the portion of the expressway connecting the Inner Circular Route to the Higashi-Ginza exit. The closure is slated to convert the elevated expressway into an elevated park similar to the Coulée verte René-Dumont in Paris and reroute the Tokyo Expressway and a portion of the Inner Circular Route to a tunnel called the Shinkyobashi Connector by 2040.[4] Tokyo's governor, Yuriko Koike approved of the concept for the future of the Tokyo Expressway, stating that "it is an incredible dream to have roads in the middle of the city turn green".[5][6] A three day event was held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Tokyo Expressway Company from 4-6 May 2024 during the Golden Week holidays, were the expressway was temporarily turned into a pedestrian zone to promote the project, simulate the completed park, and get feedback from the public. The majority of attendees approved of the premise of the future elevated park and felt that it would be a pedestrian-friendly environment.[7]

List of interchanges

The entire expressway is in Tokyo.

Locationkm[8]miExitNameDestinationsNotes
Through to C1 Inner Circular Route
Chūō0.00.0—Shiodome Toll Gate Y Yaesu Route – to HanedaSouthern terminus of the Tokyo Expressway; highway continues as the Shiodome spur of the Yaesu Route to Shiodome Junction
0.00.01ShinbashiTokyo Metropolitan Route 316 (Shōwa-dōri) / Gomon-dōriEntrance only from Tokyo Metropolitan Route 316, exit only to Gomon-dōri
0.50.312DobashiTokyo Metropolitan Route 405Entrance only from Tokyo Metropolitan Route 405
1.40.87—Nishi-GinzaY Yaesu Route – to Kita-IkebukuroNorthbound exit, southbound entrance
1.40.873Nishi-GinzaYanagi-dōri / Ginza Sakura-dōriEntrance only from Yanagi-dōri
1.71.14ShinkyobashiTokyo Metropolitan Route 316 (Shōwa-dōri)Northbound exit
1.91.25Higashi-GinzaTokyo Metropolitan Route 316 (Shōwa-dōri)Southbound exit
2.01.2—Shirauobashi Toll GateC1 Inner Circular Route – Ueno, KandabashiNorthern terminus of the Tokyo Expressway; highway continues as the Kyobashi spur of the Inner Circular Route to Kyobashi Junction
Through to C1 Inner Circular Route
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Notes

  • The 0.3 km segment between Shiodome Junction and the Shinbashi exit is technically part of the Shuto Expressway system (designated as part of the Yaesu Route).
  • The 0.1 km segment between Kyobashi Junction and the Higashi-ginza exit is also part of the Shuto Expressway system and is designated as a branch line of the Inner Circular Route (Planning Route No. 8)

References

  1. ^ a b "東京高速道路（D8）のご利用について" [How to use the Tokyo Expressway (D8)]. Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited (in Japanese). n.d. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Good vibrations: Tokyo's only private highway". Tokyo Reporter. 27 June 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  3. ^ "東京高速道路（ＫＫ線）の概要について" [Overview of the Tokyo Expressway (KK Route)] (PDF). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (in Japanese). n.d. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  4. ^ "新京橋連結路" [Shinkyobashi Connector]. Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited (in Japanese). n.d. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  5. ^ Nagano, Yusuke (12 March 2021). "銀座見下ろすKK線　行き着いた「とてつもない」将来像" [The KK Route overlooking Ginza: A vision of the "tremendous" future]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  6. ^ "東京高速道路（KK 線）を 2025 年 4 月上旬に廃止（東銀座出口を除く）します～自動車専用の道路から歩行者中心の公共的空間へ転換～" [The Tokyo Expressway (KK Route) will be abolished in early April 2025 (excluding the Higashi-Ginza exit) - Converting the automobile-only road into a pedestrian-oriented public space] (PDF). Tokyo Expressway Company (in Japanese). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  7. ^ "GINZA SKY WALK 2024" (PDF). Tokyo Expressway Company (in Japanese). 12 November 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  8. ^ "Tokyo Expressway" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 21 December 2024.

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