Japan National Route 42 Explained

Country:	JPN
Type:	National
Route:	42
Map Custom:	yes
Length Km:	504.6
Length Ref:	^[1]
Established:	1 April 1959
Direction A:	East
Terminus A:	in Hamamatsu
Direction B:	West
Terminus B:	in Wakayama
Previous Type:	Route
Previous Route:	41
Next Type:	Route
Next Route:	43

, also called Kumano Kaidō or Tropical Route is a national highway connecting Hamamatsu, Shizuoka and Wakayama, Wakayama in Japan. Part of the route requires crossing Ise Bay on the Ise-wan Ferry.^{[2] [3]} It is the 8th longest national highway in Japan.

Route data

The total length on the main road is 487.2km(307.2 miles). However, by factoring in the overlapped section (33.4km/20.8 miles) and the sea crossing(19.8km/12.3 miles)the total distance becomes 540.3km(335.7miles).^[4] At the origin Hamamatsu, the route starts overlapped with Route 1 and, is a junction to route 257 and 300. The route passes though the cities of Tahara, Toba, Ise, Matsusaka, Owase, Kumano, Shingū, Tanabe, and Gobō. At the terminus Wakayama, there is a junction with national route 24 and 26.

Overlapping sections

• From the origin to Kosai: Route 1
• From Tahara to Toba (Ferry crossing section): Route 259
• From Toba to Ise: Route 167
• From Ise to Matsusaka : Route 23
• From Tanabe to Minabe: Route 424

History

Route 42 was originally designated in January 1945 as a section of Route 41 (the Kumano Highway), which ran to Tokyo. This ran concurrent with Route 1 (now Route 1/Route 23). On 18 May 1953 Route 41 was classified as a Class 2 highway and redesignated as Route 170, which was later redesignated as Route 42 when the route was promoted to a Class 1 highway. On 1 April 1965, the classification of Class 1 and Class 2 was discontinued, redesignating it as General National Route 42.

On 1 April 1993, the highway was changed by removing the section of Tsu-Matsusaka and adding the Hamamatsu - Matsusaka. This was part of the plan to connect the Atsumi Peninsula, though the Kii Peninsula, Shikoku, Kyushu and terminating at Okinawa.^[5] This plan is called the Japan Sea National Land Axis Plan.^[6]

Passes through

Shizuoka Prefecture

• Hamana Bypass (浜名バイパス)^[7]
  • Hamamatsu - Kosai

Aichi Prefecture

• Sanen Ise Access Road (三遠伊勢連絡道路)^[8] - Planning Stage
  • Hamamatsu - Ise (Mie Prefecture)

Mie Prefecture

• Matsusaka - Taki Bypass (松阪多気バイパス)^[9]
  • Matsusaka - Taki
• Kumano - Owase Road (熊野尾鷲道路)^[10]
  • Owase - Kumano
• Odomari Bypass (大泊バイパス)^[11]
  • Kumano
• Kumano Road (熊野道路)^[12]
  • Kumanoo
• Kiho Bypass (紀宝バイパス)^[13]
  • Kiho - Shingu
• Shingu - Kiho Road (新宮紀宝道路)^[14]
  • Kiho - Shingu

Wakayama Prefecture

• Nachikatsuura - Shingu Road (那智勝浦新宮道路)^[15]
  • Shingu - Nachikatsuura
• Kushimoto - Taiji Road (串本太地道路)^[16]
  • Taiji - Kushimoto
• Susami - Kushimoto Road (すさみ串本道路)^[17]
  • Kushimoto - Susami
• Yuasa - Gobo Road (湯浅御坊道路) - Toll Road^[18]
  • Gobo - Yuasa
• Hiki River Road (日置川道路)^[19]
  • Sasumi - Shirahama
• Tanabe Bypass (田辺バイパス)^[20]
  • Kamitonda - Tanabe
• West Tanabe Bypass (田辺西バイパス)
  • Tanabe
• Yura Bypass (由良バイパス)
  • Yura - Hirogawa
• Arida Bypass (有田バイパス)
  • Arida
• Shimizu Widening (冷水拡幅) - Partially Under Construction^[21]
  • Kainan
• Arita - Kainan Road (有田海南道路) - Partially Under Construction
  • Arida - Kainan
• Kainan Bypass (海南バイパス)
  • Kainan

Notes and References

1. Web site: 一般国道の路線別、都道府県別道路現況. Road statistics by General National Highway route and prefecture. ja. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 19 February 2020.
2. Web site: ja:一般国道４２号 . http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/road/time/r042a.html . Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism . 29 November 2010. ja.
3. Web site: ja:一般国道42 号 . http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/road/time/r042b.html . Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism . 29 November 2010. ja.
4. Web site: 国土交通省道路局 . 道路統計年報2023 .
5. Web site: 三重県｜地方分権：国土の中央部の優位性 . 2024-10-17 . www.pref.mie.lg.jp . ja.
6. Web site: Sea of Japan National Land Axis Concept International Highway Foundation promoting the Japan-Korea Tunnel Project . 2024-10-17 . ihf.jp.
7. Web site: 浜名バイパス｜国道1号｜道路事業｜国土交通省 中部地方整備局 浜松河川国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . www.cbr.mlit.go.jp.
8. Web site: 三重県｜交通総合：伊勢湾口道路 . 2024-10-17 . www.pref.mie.lg.jp . ja.
9. Web site: 国道42号松阪多気バイパス 事業の紹介 国土交通省中部地方整備局 紀勢国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . 国土交通省中部地方整備局 紀勢国道事務所 . ja.
10. Web site: 国道42号 熊野尾鷲道路 事業の紹介 国土交通省中部地方整備局 紀勢国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . 国土交通省中部地方整備局 紀勢国道事務所 . ja.
11. Web site: 2023-03-17 . No10：平成11年（1999年）～平成15年（2003年）｜旧熊野市の歩み｜熊野市 . 2024-10-17 . www.city.kumano.lg.jp . ja.
12. Web site: 国道42号 熊野道路 事業の紹介 国土交通省中部地方整備局 紀勢国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . 国土交通省中部地方整備局 紀勢国道事務所 . ja.
13. Web site: 紀宝町 . July 2013 . Public Relations Kiho 2013 vol.90 . 18 October 2024.
14. Web site: 一般国道42号 新宮紀宝道路｜道の情報｜国土交通省近畿地方整備局 紀南河川国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . www.kkr.mlit.go.jp.
15. Web site: 一般国道42号 那智勝浦道路｜道の情報｜国土交通省近畿地方整備局 紀南河川国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . www.kkr.mlit.go.jp.
16. Web site: 一般国道42号 串本太地道路｜道の情報｜国土交通省近畿地方整備局 紀南河川国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . www.kkr.mlit.go.jp.
17. Web site: 一般国道42号 すさみ串本道路｜道の情報｜国土交通省近畿地方整備局 紀南河川国道事務所 . 2024-10-17 . www.kkr.mlit.go.jp.
18. Web site: 国土交通省 . 2013 . 平成２５年度予算要求に係る新規事業採択時評価 . 18 October 2024.
19. Web site: 効果事例 . 2024-10-17 . www.mlit.go.jp.
20. Web site: 国土交通省 . March 2024 . 田辺西バイパス 田辺バイパス . 18 October 2024.
21. Web site: 和歌山河川国道事務所 いこら！和歌山。 . 2024-10-17 . www.kkr.mlit.go.jp.