Japan National Route 12

National Route 12 (国道12号, Kokudō Jūni-gō) is a Japanese national highway connecting the two largest cities of Hokkaido, Sapporo and Asahikawa. The 135.7-kilometer-long (84.3 mi) highway begins at an intersection with National Routes 36 and 230 in Sapporo. It travels northeast across the western side of Hokkaido to Asahikawa where it ends at an intersection with National Routes 39 and 40.

National Route 12
国道12号
Japan National Route 12 highlighted in red
Route information
Length135.7 km[1] (84.3 mi)
Existed4 December 1952–present
Major junctions
South end National Route 36 / National Route 230 in Chūō-ku, Sapporo
 
North end National Route 39 / National Route 40 in Asahikawa
Highway system
National highways of Japan
Expressways of Japan
National Route 11 National Route 13

Route description

National Route 12 is a 135.7-kilometer-long (84.3 mi) highway in western Hokkaido that runs north from Sapporo to Asahikawa. Its southern terminus lies at an intersection in Chūō-ku, Sapporo where it meets National Routes 36 and 230. Along the way from Sapporo to Asahikawa, it passes through the cities of Ebetsu, Iwamizawa, Takikawa, and Fukagawa.[2] The highway is closely paralleled by the tolled Dō-Ō Expressway and it functions as free alternative route to the expressway between Sapporo and Asahikawa.[3] A notable section of the highway between the cities of Bibai and Takikawa is known for being the longest straight section of roadway in Japan.[4] Marked as being 29.2 kilometers (18.1 mi) long, there is actually a slight curve in Takikawa, bringing the actual length of the straight section of the road down to 27.7 kilometers (17.2 mi).[4] Its northern terminus in Asahikawa is the intersection where it meets National Routes 39 and 40.[5]

History

National Route 12 in eastern Sapporo during the winter

National Route 12 was preceded by the Kamikawa Road, an 88-kilometer-long (55 mi), Meiji period road built to link the current cities of Mikasa and Asahikawa. Ordered by Genrōin secretary Kaneko Kentarō, construction on the road began in April 1886. It was completed in 90 days by making use of prison labor from the prisoners that were to be incarcerated at Abashiri Prison in northeastern Hokkaido. The prison laborers were mainly political dissidents that Kaneko viewed as morally deficient.[6] Construction of the Kamikawa Road and the others leading from the more-developed southern part of Hokkaido to the prison were of strategic importance to Japan, which viewed Hokkaido as being vulnerable to an invasion from their neighbor, the Russian Empire.[7]

On 4 December 1952 the highway was designated by the Cabinet of Japan as Primary National Highway 12 between Sapporo and Asahikawa.[8] On 1 April 1965 it was reclassified as General National Highway 12 without any changes being made to its routing.[9]

Major junctions

The route lies entirely within Hokkaido.

Locationkm[10]miDestinationsNotes
Sapporo0.00.0 National Route 36 south Chitose
National Route 230 west Otaru, Teine
Hokkaido Route 18 Sapporo Station
Southern terminus; highway continues west as National Route 230
0.40.25 National Route 5 south (Sōseikawa-dōri) Ishikari
1.20.75Hokkaido Route 3 east – Ichijo-ohashi Bridge
2.31.4 National Route 275 north Tsukigata, Tōbetsu
4.83.0 Hokkaido Route 89 (Kanjō-dōri) – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Sasson Expressway, National Route 36, Misono, Kitago
5.23.2Hokkaido Route 368 north Shiroishi Station
7.14.4 Hokkaido Route 453 west – to National Route 36, Tsukisamu
9.35.8 National Route 274 southExit ramp from National Route 274 south to National Route 12 only
10.26.3 Hokkaido Route 3 – to Dō-Ō Expressway, National Route 274, Ryutsu Center, Kitahiroshima
11.47.1 Hokkaido Route 1138 south (Atsubetsu-chūō-dōri) – to National Route 36, Satozuka
Ebetsu19.011.8Hokkaido Route 1005 south – Kitahiroshima
19.312.0Hokkaido Route 46 north – Kakuyama
Hokkaido Route 370 east Nopporo Station
Southern end of Hokkaido Route 46 concurrency
21.213.2Hokkaido Route 46 south Nanporo, Kitahiroshima
Hokkaido Route 128 west – to Dō-Ō Expressway, National Route 275, Tōbetsu
Northern end of Hokkaido Route 46 concurrency
22.714.1 Hokkaido Route 1056 west – to National Route 275, TōbetsuSouthern end of Hokkaido Route 1056 concurrency
25.716.0 Hokkaido Route 1056 west Naganuma, Nanporo, AkebonoNorthern end of Hokkaido Route 1056 concurrency
27.016.8 National Route 337 (Dō-ōken Renraku Road) – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Otaru, Tōbetsu, Shinshinotsu, Naganuma, NanporoInterchange
Iwamizawa34.921.7Hokkaido Route 340 south Kuriyama, Nanporo
Hokkaido Route 1121 north – Shinshinotsu, Kitamura
38.323.8Hokkaido Route 728 south Kurisawa
39.624.6Hokkaido Route 81 north – Tōbetsu, Shinshinotsu, Kitamura
40.525.2Hokkaido Route 6 north Iwamizawa Station
41.025.5Hokkaido Route 1139 south
43.026.7 National Route 234 south Tomakomai, Kuriyama
Hokkaido Route 687 north – Kitamura, Tsukigawa, Shinshinotsu
45.628.3Hokkaido Route 960 east
45.828.5Hokkaido Route 917 east – Iwamizawa Road Office
Mikasa50.231.2Hokkaido Route 30 south – Kuriyama, Mikasa
Bibai52.132.4Hokkaido Route 275 west – Tsukigata, Miyajima Swamp, Kitamura
52.432.6Hokkaido Route 1140 east – Mikasa
60.837.8 Hokkaido Route 33 west – to National Route 275, Kamibibai, Tsukigata, Miyajima Swamp
61.738.3Hokkaido Route 135 east – Tomei Park
65.640.8 Hokkaido Route 979 west – to National Route 275, Urausu
Naie71.244.2Hokkaido Route 139 west – Urausu
71.544.4Hokkaido Route 529 east Naie StationSouthern end of Hokkaido Route 529 concurrency
71.844.6Hokkaido Route 529 eastNorthern end of Hokkaido Route 529 concurrency
74.646.4 Hokkaido Route 114 north – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Kamisunagawa
Sunagawa78.648.8Hokkaido Route 115 east Utashinai, Kamisunagawa
80.349.9 Hokkaido Route 283 west – to National Route 275, Shintotsukawa
Hokkaido Route 627 east – Utashinai
82.551.3 Hokkaido Route 1027 east – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Utashinai
84.752.6 National Route 12 north (Takikawa Bypass) Asahikawa, Fukagawa
Takikawa86.053.4 National Route 451 north (Takishin Bypass) – Shintotsukawa
86.653.8Hokkaido Route 203 west Takikawa Station
87.054.1 National Route 38 east (Higashi-Ōdōri) – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Furano
National Route 451 north Hamamasu, Shintotsukawa
90.656.3 National Route 12 south (Takikawa Bypass) – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Sapporo, Sunagawa
94.959.0 Hokkaido Route 564 east – to National Route 38, Akabira
95.159.1Hokkaido Route 323 west Ebeotsu Station
96.359.8 Hokkaido Route 279 west – to National Route 275, Uryū
Fukagawa101.463.0 Hokkaido Route 94 north – to Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway, Moseushi
108.967.7 National Route 233 west – to Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway, Fukagawa Station, Rumoi
Hokkaido Route 79 east – to Dō-Ō Expressway
Southern end of National Route 233 concurrency
114.571.1Hokkaido Route 916 north Osamunai Station
Asahikawa118.273.4Hokkaido Route 4 south Ashibetsu
119.474.2Hokkaido Route 57 west – Rumoi, Fukagawa
130.981.3 National Route 12 north (Asahikawa Shindō) – to Dō-Ō Expressway, Kitami, ShibetsuNorthbound exit, southbound entrance
131.281.5Hokkaido Route 937 south – Kamiubun, Daibahigashi
133.583.0 Hokkaido Route 90 Numata, Tadoshi, Furano, Asahikawa Airport
135.284.0 National Route 237 south (Takishin Bypass) – Furano, Biei, Asahikawa Airport
135.784.3 National Route 39 east (Yonjō-dōri) – Kitami, Kamikawa
National Route 40 north (Shōwa-dōri) Nayoro, Shibetsu
Northern terminus; end of National Route 233 concurrency; highway continues east as National Route 39
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Auxiliary routes

Takikawa Bypass

Takikawa Bypass northeast of central Takikawa

The Takikawa Bypass is a 6.3-kilometer-long (3.9 mi) auxiliary route of National Route 12 that travels to the east and north of the central district of Takikawa. From its southern terminus with its parent route, it heads north and crosses over the Sorachi River. It has a junction with National Route 38. After this junction the Takikawa Bypass travels northeast, paralleling the main line of National Route 12 until it reaches Hokkaido Route 776. From there it heads northwest towards its northern terminus at a junction with National Route 12.[11][12]

Asahikawa Shindō

The Asahikawa Shindō is a 14.1-kilometer-long (8.8 mi) auxiliary route of National Route 12 that travels to the west and north of the central district of Asahikawa.[5] From its southern terminus with its parent route, it heads north and crosses over the Ishikari River. After that it curves to the northeast and has a junction with the Dō-Ō Expressway. North of central Asahikawa the highway curves to the southeast. It meets National Route 40 just before crossing over the Ishikari River once more. The highway then meets its northern terminus at an intersection with National Route 39.[13]

References

  1. "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] (PDF) (in Japanese). Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  2. "一般国道12号 江別道路" [National Route 12 Ebetsu Road] (PDF) (in Japanese). 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. "E5 Do-O Expressway Ebetsu East IC-Iwamizawa IC (both directions) Emergency Night Closure Notice". East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. Hokkaido Regional Head Office. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  4. 吉田弥生 (16 August 2016). "29.2kmを直線ドライブ!日本一の直線道路を旅する" [29.2 km straight drive! Travel on Japan's longest straight road] (in Japanese). J-TRIP Co,Ltd. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  5. "一般国道12号 旭川新道" [National Route 12 Asahikawa Shindō] (PDF) (in Japanese). 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  6. "開拓の基盤を作った囚人道路" [Foundations laid by prisoner-built road]. Tsukigata History (in Japanese). 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  7. Kris Kosaka (24 March 2013). "Abashiri astounds with its ice and convict connections". The Japan Times. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  8. "一級国道の路線を指定する政令 (昭和二十七年)" [Cabinet Order Designating Routes of Primary National Highways (Showa 27)]. Act of 1952 (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  9. "一般国道の路線を指定する政令" [Cabinet Order Designating General National Routes]. Act of 1965 (in Japanese). Cabinet of Japan. Retrieved 11 August 2020 via Wikisource.
  10. Google (11 August 2020). "National Route 12" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  11. "方針付図" [Policy attached diagram] (PDF) (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  12. Google (11 August 2020). "Takikawa Bypass" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  13. Google (11 August 2020). "Asahikawa Shindō" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.