The Kansai-Kūkō Expressway ( 関西空港自動車道 , Kansai-Kūkō Jidōsha-dō ) (lit. Kansai Airport Expressway) is a 4-laned national expressway in Izumisano, Osaka , Japan . It is owned and operated by West Nippon Expressway Company .
5-671: The expressway is a short connector route linking the Sky Gate Bridge R , and ultimately, Kansai International Airport , with the Hanwa Expressway . National Route 481 serves as a frontage road for the expressway. The Kansai-Kūkō Expressway opened on 2 April 1994, five months prior to the opening of Kansai International Airport . The entire expressway is in Osaka Prefecture . Sky Gate Bridge R Sky Gate Bridge R ( スカイゲートブリッジR Sukaigētoburijji R ) , also known as
10-588: Is a continuous truss bridge that measures 3.75 km (2.33 mi) long, 29.5 m (96 ft 9 in) wide (6 lanes), and 25 m (82 ft) at its highest point in the center. The bridge commenced construction in June 1987, and was completed in March 1994. On 21 April 2009, management of the expressway portion of the bridge was handed over to the West Nippon Expressway Company . This expressway
15-535: The Kansai International Airport Access Bridge ( 関西国際空港連絡橋 ) , serves as a link between the mainland of Osaka , Japan to the artificial island in Osaka Bay on which Kansai International Airport is built. It is the longest double-decked truss bridge in the world. The bridge carries six lanes of automobile traffic on top and two of rail below, over nine truss spans. The Sky Gate Bridge
20-496: The next day via the Kōbe–Kankū Bay Shuttle ( 神戸-関空ベイ・シャトル ) ferry to nearby Kobe Airport , later joined by buses over the undamaged half of the bridge. The bridge was partially reopened to vehicle traffic on 7 March 2019 with four lanes open. The bridge's full capacity with six lanes of traffic was restored on 8 April 2019. The entire expressway is in Osaka Prefecture . The sequence of kilometer posts continue from
25-494: Was numbered E71 alongside the Kansai-Kūkō Expressway in 2016. The bridge was damaged on 4 September 2018 by Typhoon Jebi . A 2600-ton tanker lost power and was blown into one side, severely damaging half of the automobile lanes and the rail lines. The bridge, being the sole link between the airport and the mainland, stranded approximately 3000 passengers and 2000 staff overnight at the airport. They were evacuated
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