Shuto Expressway, Urban freeway network in Tokyo, JP
Shuto Expressway is an urban freeway system in Tokyo that spans 322 kilometers of mostly elevated roadway linking the main districts across the metropolitan area. Circular and radial routes run on multiple levels through densely built neighborhoods and form a complex network of ramps and junctions.
The operating company began traffic operations in 1959 as a public entity to relieve the rapidly growing city. In 2005 the organization transformed into a corporation that remains largely under government ownership.
The name Shuto comes from the Japanese word for capital city and marks the network as part of Tokyo's modern infrastructure. Commuters and delivery services use the route daily, while the elevated sections create a visible ribbon of light through the city at night.
All vehicles pay a flat toll of 1300 yen regardless of the distance covered, and electronic payment systems offer reductions at certain times of day. Most sections maintain a speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour (37 miles per hour) that is strictly enforced.
The route includes 21 compact rest areas that serve as pause points in the heavy traffic. The Bayshore Route became the setting for a street racing scene in the 1990s that later inspired numerous films and video games.
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