The is a national expressway in Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.
Overview
The name Gaikan refers to the route's status as an outer ring road (beltway) for Tokyo. The expressway is also referred to simply as Gaikan for short. It is the third of four expressway ring routes in the greater Tokyo area, outside the Inner and Central Circular Routes, and inside the Ken-Ō Expressway.
A section of the expressway on the northern side of the Tokyo area was the first to open to traffic (Ōizumi Junction to Misato-minami Interchange). Most of this section is an elevated roadway built on the median of National Route 298 with curved windbreaks on both sides. Most of the roadway has two lanes in each direction (three lanes from Ōizumi Junction to Wakō-kita Interchange).
The eastern section from Misato to Ichikawa was opened to the public on 2 June 2018, three years after schedule. The western section from Izumi to the Chuo expressway is under construction, while the final section linking to the Tomei expressway is still at the planning stage. The western section will pass through the densely populated suburbs of western Tokyo; large parts of it will consist of tunnels constructed at least 40 m underground (deep underground).
The toll for a regular passenger car is currently 500 yen regardless of the distance travelled. Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) is accepted.
List of interchanges and features
PA - parking area, TB - toll gate
Gallery
References
External links East Nippon Expressway Company About the Gaikan (Chiba section) Tokyo Ring Step (Tokyo section)