# Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway

The Nishikyushu Expressway (西九州自動車道, Nishi-Kyūshū jidōshadō) is one of the expressways of Japan which goes from Fukuoka to Takeo, running through the prefecture of Saga and the northern half of the Nagasaki Prefecture. The total length is 150 km.
Part of the road is specified as Route 497. This road has two toll zones. The Fukuoka and Maebaru toll zone is managed by Fukuoka Prefectural Road Public Corporation. The Takeo and Sasebo toll zone is managed by West Nippon Expressway Company. The other roadway is managed by MLIT. This road is connected to Fukuoka Expressway Circular Route in Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, and to Nagasaki Expressway in Takeo. From Nijō to Nijō Shika Interchange this expressway overlaps a section of Nijō Hamatama road.

## Overview

The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 1988. As of April 2016 the expressway was incomplete in many areas. The next sections were scheduled to open in 2017 (Minamihata Taniguchi Interchange to Imari Higashi Interchange) and (Imabuku Interchange to Tsukinokawa Interchange). After this, most of the incomplete areas were to be built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby the burden for construction costs will be shared by the national and local governments and no tolls were to be collected. Currently the section between Nijō Shikaka Interchange and Minamihata Taniguchi Interchange, Yamashiro Kubara Interchange and Imabuku Interchange, and Saza Interchange and Sasebo Daitō Interchange operates according to this principle.
The expressway is four lanes wide from Fukushige Junction to Higashi Intersection (temporary interchange) and Saza Interchange to Sasebo Chūō Interchange, and two lanes for all remaining sections.

## History

* March 24, 1988, a section from Sasebo Daitō to Hasami Arita Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* November 30, 1989, a section from Hasami Arita to Takeo Minami Interchange was opened to traffic.
* January 26, 1990, a section from Takeo Minami Interchange to Takeo Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* March 26, 1993, a section from Susenji Interchange to Higashi Intersection (temporary interchange) was opened to traffic.
* April 17, 1998, a section from Sasebo Minato to Sasebo Daitō Interchange was opened to traffic.
* September 26, 1998, a section from Jyūrokuchō to Susenji Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* October 13, 2001, a section from Fukushige Junction to Jyūrokuchō Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* November 2003, a section from Fukushige Junction to Maebaru Interchange which made with four lanes.
* December 18, 2005, a section from Hamatama to Karatsu Interchange was opened to traffic.
* December 12, 2009, a section from Nijō Shikaka to Hamatama Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* March 20, 2010, a section from Ainoura Nakazato to Sasebo Minato Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* February 26, 2011, a section from Fukushige Junction to the east was opened with other freeway.
* September 13, 2011, a section from Saza to Ainoura Nakazato Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 24, 2012, a section from Karatsu to Karatsu Chichika Yamada Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 23, 2013, a section from Karatsu Chichika Yamada to Kitahata Interchange was opened to traffic.
* February 1, 2015, a section from Kitahata to Minamihata Taniguchi Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 14, 2015, a section from Yamashiro Kubara to Imabuku Interchange was opened to traffic.
* November 5, 2017, a section from Imabuku to Tsukinokawa Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 31, 2018, a section from Minamihata Taniguchi to Imari Higashi Interchange was opened to traffic.
* December 15, 2018, a section from Tsukinokawa to Matsuura Interchange was opened to traffic.

## Interchanges

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS - bus stop, TN - tunnel, BR - bridge, TB - toll gate
* Bus stops labeled "○" are currently in use; those marked "◆" are closed.
| No. | Name | Connections | Dist. from Origin | Bus stop | Notes | Location | Location |
| JCT | Fukushige JCT | Fukuoka Expressway Circular Route | 0.0 | | | Fukuoka | Nishi-ku, Fukuoka |
| | Jyūrokuchō IC | National Route 202 (Imajuku Road) | 0.8 | | Sasebo-bound entrance | Fukuoka | Nishi-ku, Fukuoka |
| | Jyūrokuchō IC | National Route 202 (Imajuku Road) | 2.0 | | Sasebo-bound exit | Fukuoka | Nishi-ku, Fukuoka |
| TB/PA | Fukuoka Nishi TB/PA | | 2.1 | | | Fukuoka | Nishi-ku, Fukuoka |
| | Imajuku IC | National Route 202 (Imajuku Road) | 3.5 | | For Fukuoka only | Fukuoka | Nishi-ku, Fukuoka |
| | Susenji IC | National Route 202 (Imajuku Road) | 6.6 | | For Sasebo only | Fukuoka | Nishi-ku, Fukuoka |
| TB | Maebaru TB | | 12.1 | | | Fukuoka | Itoshima |
| | Maebaru IC | | 12.6 | | For Fukuoka only | Fukuoka | Itoshima |
| | Higashi Intersection (temporary interchange) | National Route 202 (Imajuku Road) Pref. Route 573 (Hon Kafuri Teishajō Route) | 14.2 | | | Fukuoka | Itoshima |
| | Nijō IC | Pref. Route 49 (Onojō Nijō Route) | | | Planned | Fukuoka | Itoshima |
| Itoshima ||||||
| | Nijō Shikaka IC | | 0.0 | | | Fukuoka | Itoshima |
| | Hamatama IC | National Route 323 | 3.8 | | | Saga | Karatsu |
| | Karatsu IC | Pref. Route 40 (Hamatama Ōchi Route) Pref. Route 258 (Handa Onizuka Route) Saga Karatsu Road (planned) | 10.4 | | | Saga | Karatsu |
| | Karatsu Chichika Yamada IC | Pref. Route 320 (Chichika Kōda Route) | 14.9 | | | Saga | Karatsu |
| | Kitahata IC | Pref. Route 50 (Karatsu Kitahata Route) | 18.4 | | | Saga | Karatsu |
| | Minamihata Taniguchi IC | Pref. Route 297 (Shioya Omagari Route) | 23.2 | | | Saga | Imari |
| | Imari Hagashi IC | National Route 202 | 28.5 | | | Saga | Imari |
| Imari ||||||
| | Imari Naka IC | | | | Planned | Saga | Imari |
| | Imari Nishi IC | National Route 204 | | | Planned | Saga | Imari |
| | Kusuku IC | Pref. Route 5 (Imari Matsuura Route) | | | Planned | Saga | Imari |
| | Yamashiro Kubara IC | National Route 204 | 0.0 | | | Saga | Imari |
| | Imabuku IC | National Route 204 | 5.5 | | | Nagasaki | Matsuura |
| | Tsukinokawa IC | | 8.1 | | For Fukuoka only | Nagasaki | Matsuura |
| | Matsuura IC | National Route 204 (Matsuura Bypass) | 10.3 | | | Nagasaki | Matsuura |
| Planned route ||||||||
| | Hirado Mikuriya Emukae IC | | | | Planned | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| | Emukae Shikamachi IC | | | | Planned | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| 8 | Saza IC | | 38.9 | | | Nagasaki | Saza |
| 7 | Ainoura Nakazato IC | Pref. Route 11 (Sasebo Hino Matsuura Route) | 34.9 | | | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| 6 | Sasebo Chūō IC | Pref. Route 11 (Sasebo Hino Matsuura Route) | 29.9 | | | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| 5 | Sasebo Minato IC | Pref. Route 11 (Sasebo Hino Matsuura Route) Pref. Route 26 (Sasebo Port Route) | 27.0 | | For Takeo only | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| 4 | Sasebo Daitō IC/TB | National Route 205 (Hario Bypass) | 22.1 | | | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| 3 | Sasebo Mikawachi IC/TB | National Route 35 | 14.8 | | | Nagasaki | Sasebo |
| 2 | Hasami Arita IC | Pref. Route 4 (Kawatana Arita Route) | 10.1 | ○ | | Nagasaki | Hasami |
| 1 | Takeo Minami IC/TB | National Route 34 | 0.0 | | For Fukuoka only | Saga | Takeo |
| 6 | Takeo JCT | Nagasaki Expressway | 0.7 | | | Saga | Takeo |