A new Shimonoseki-Kitakyushu Road is planned for the Kanmon Strait, providing a third route between Honshu and Kyushu. The project includes a 2.2-kilometer suspension bridge, among Japan’s largest, following the Kanmon Tunnel and Kanmon Bridge. Officials from Fukuoka and Yamaguchi advocated for the project at a recent conference, highlighting its importance for regional development and infrastructure.
The road will span eight kilometers, connecting Shimonoseki and Kitakyushu city centers directly, unlike existing detour routes. The project, expected to cost ¥290 billion to ¥350 billion, is set to start construction following an urban planning decision in May 2026, with completion anticipated in the late 2030s.
The Kanmon Tunnel and Kanmon Bridge, opened in 1958 and 1973 respectively, are heavily used and aging, necessitating this new route. Source: YAB
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