The city of Shimono, Tochigi Prefecture, and NEXCO East Japan Kanto Branch have decided on the official name of the new smart interchange connecting to the Kita-Kanto Expressway (E50) as the “Shimono Smart Interchange (Shimono Smart IC).
Based on the progress of the construction, if the procurement of materials and equipment goes smoothly, the opening is expected to be in the winter of 2026.
The Shimono Smart IC connects to the existing main line between the Mibu IC and the Utsunomiya Kaminomikawa IC. Located 5.0 km from the Mibu IC and 3.4 km from the Utsunomiya Kaminomikawa IC, it is a 24-hour, one-stop smart IC for all types of vehicles equipped with an ETC on-board device.
The construction of the Shimono Smart IC is expected to revitalize local industries by reducing access time to the expressway from the surrounding industrial parks, and is also expected to promote migration and settlement due to the improved convenience.
The project is also expected to strengthen disaster prevention by securing new emergency transportation routes in the event of flooding due to heavy rains, etc., and to alleviate chronic traffic congestion by dispersing traffic on the surrounding arterial roads.
© Source travel watch