Shiribeshi Expressway

Officially, the expressway is referred to as the Trans-Hokkaido Expressway Otaru-Kutchan Route.{{cite web|title=北海道横断自動車道（黒松内～余市）における計画段階評価|url=http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000189882.pdf|trans-title=Evaluation at the planning stage in the Hokkaido expressway (Kuromatsunai-Yoichi)|language=ja|work=Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism|accessdate=22 January 2019}}

The Shiribeshi Expressway was made to provide a high-speed alternate route to Japan National Route 5 in Shiribeshi Subprefecture. After the events of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, it was deemed necessary to provide an inland route during a tsunami event. Frequent volcanic activity from Mount Usu to the south also increased the demand of such a high-speed route.{{cite web|title=後志⾃動⾞道余市ＩＣ-⼩樽ＪＣＴ 延⻑２３.３ｋｍ 平成３０年１２⽉８⽇⼟１５時開通|url=https://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/press_release/hokkaido/h30/1107/pdfs/02.pdf|work=East Nippon Expressway Company|language=ja|accessdate=22 January 2019}}

The expressway's eastern terminus is at an interchange with the Sasson Expressway, just to the east of the central part of Otaru. Sasson Expressway eastbound traffic from Otaru cannot travel west onto the Shiribeshi Expressway. From here the expressway quickly travels southwest and away from the coast. It travels through many tunnels curving first to the west, then the northwest, and finally back to the west near Shioya Station on the Hakodate Main Line. After this curve the route comes to a junction with Hokkaido Route 1173. Continuing west through more tunnel, the expressway crosses into the town of Yoichi where it comes to its temporary western terminus at Hokkaido Route 753.url=https://www.google.com/maps/@43.1863698,140.8256335,4850m/data=!3m1!1e3

The first section of the expressway, from the Sasson Expressway to Yoichi Interchange, was opened to drivers on 8 December 2018 by NEXCO East Japan.{{cite web|title=Shiribeshi Expressway opening commemoration! Follow & Retweet Campaign|url=https://www.e-nexco.co.jp/en/news/h30/1119/|work=East Nippon Expressway Company|language=en|date=19 November 2018|accessdate=22 January 2019}}

The expressway is planned to be extended from its current western terminus (as of January 2019) in Yoichi southwest to National Route 5 in Kutchan. The proposed length of the completed expressway is {{convert|62.4|km|mi}}.

The entire expressway is in Hokkaido. Aside from the eastern terminus at Otaru, exit numbers are carried over from the final number of the Sasson Expressway (11).

{{JPNinttop|exit|name|nopref=yes}}

{{JPNint|exit|name

|location_special=Otaru

|lspan=2

|km=0

|exit=9

|type=incomplete

|name=Otaru

|road=File:Japan_ferry_sign.png{{jct|country=JPN|Exp|E5A|dab1=SA}} – Sapporo, Central Otaru, Shin-Nihonkai Ferry (to Maizuru)

|notes=Eastern terminus. Eastbound traffic on the Sasson Expressway cannot access the Shiribeshi Expressway

}}

{{JPNint|exit|name

|km=14.3

|exit=12

|name=Otaru-Shioya

|road=Hokkaido Route 1173

|notes=

}}

{{JPNint|exit|name

|location_special=Yoichi

|km=23.3

|exit=13

|name=Yoichi

|road=Hokkaido Route 753

|notes=Current western terminus as of January 2019

}}

{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=incomplete|col=8}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/ East Nippon Expressway Company] {{in lang|ja}}

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{{East Nippon Expressway Company}}

{{Expressways of Japan}}

Category:Expressways in Japan

Category:Roads in Hokkaido

Category:Proposed roads in Japan

Category:2018 establishments in Japan