Japan National Route 48 Explained

Country:JPN
Type:National
Route:48
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:Japan National Route 48 highlighted in red
History:Formerly National Route 110 from 1953-1963
Length Km:75.0
Length Ref:[1]
Established:1963
Direction A:East
Terminus A: in Aoba-ku, Sendai
Junction:
    Direction B:West
    Terminus B: in Yamagata
    Previous Type:Route
    Previous Route:47
    Next Type:Route
    Next Route:49

    is a national highway of Japan that connects the capital cities of Miyagi Prefecture and Yamagata Prefecture, Sendai and Yamagata. It has a total length of 75km (47miles).

    Route description

    National Route 48 is one of the primary east-west highways in the prefectures of Miyagi and Yamagata and is the main toll-free route between the city of Sendai on the Pacific coast and the city of Yamagata in Yamagata Prefecture's interior plains. It carries traffic across the Ōu Mountains that separate the two cities. The highway's eastern terminus lies at a junction with National Route 45 in Sendai's Aoba ward. Its first stretch is a brief concurrency with National Route 286. Leaving National Route 286 and central Sendai, a 5.4km (03.4miles) section of the highway, the Sendai Nishi Road, is a limited-access road that connects central Sendai to the cross-country Tōhoku Expressway via 3.13km (01.94miles) of tunnels.[2] Continuing west from the highway's junction with the Tōhoku Expressway, the highway is known as the Ayashi Bypass. The highway meets National Route 457, which is shares a brief concurrency with before that route continues to the south. Crossing into Yamagata Prefecture the highway shares a significant concurrency with National Route 13 in the Yamagata cities of Tendō and Yamagata. The highway while running concurrently with National Route 13, meets its western terminus at a junction with National Route 112 to the south of central Yamagata. The highway has a total length of 75km (47miles).

    History

    National Route 48 was first established as Secondary National Route 110 in 1953 between the cities of Sendai and Yamagata. It was upgraded to National Route 48 in 1963 and National Route 110 was abolished.[3] The Sendai Nishi Road, billed as the "Land Gateway to Sendai", that links central Sendai to Sendai-Miyagi Interchange on the Tōhoku Expressway was partially opened in 1983 and fully opened in 1987 after construction was completed on a series of tunnels. It replaced the original, congested two-lane section of National Route 48 along the Hirose River. The road along the river was redesignated as Miyagi Prefecture Route 31 after the completion of the Sendai Nishi Road.[4] The Ayashi Bypass to the west of the Sendai Nishi Road along the route was opened in 1994.[5]

    Major intersections

    All junctions listed are at-grade intersections unless noted otherwise.

    Japan National Route 110

    Country:JPN
    Type:NR
    Route:110
    Location:Sendai, Yamagata
    Formed:18 May 1953
    Deleted:1 April 1963
    Yr Ref:[6]

    is a former secondary national highway of Japan that occupied the same route as National Route 48 from Sendai to Yamagata. It existed from 1953 to 1963, when it was redefined as the National Route 48.[6]

    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: 仙台西国道維持出張所. West Sendai National Road Maintenance Office. MLIT. ja. 2009. 26 June 2020.
    3. 一級国道の路線を指定する政令. Cabinet Order Designating General National Routes. Wikisource. 1962. Cabinet of Japan. ja. 22 June 2020.
    4. Web site: 仙台西道路. Sendai Nishi Road. 座談会シリーズ (Roundtable Series). ja. 22 June 2020.
    5. Web site: City Plan Data. City of Sendai. 22 June 2020.
    6. Web site: 質問,国道の番号はどのような基準で決められるのですか?. What is the standard for determining national highway numbers?. ja. MLIT Japan. 21 June 2020.