Japan's national highway expansion and Shuto Expressway integration (1950–1985)

1. First Five-Year Road Improvement Program begins

   Jan 1, 1954Labels: Five-Year Road

   • HIDO

2. Japan Highway Public Corporation is established

   Apr 16, 1956Labels: Japan Highway

   • JHPC
   • NEXCO RI

3. Construction of the Metropolitan Expressway begins

   Jan 1, 1959Labels: Metropolitan Expressway

   • Shutoko History
   • FHWA Japan

4. First Shuto Expressway section opens (Kyobashi–Shibaura)

   Dec 20, 1962Labels: Shuto Expressway

   • Shutoko History
   • Shutoko Renewal

5. Meishin Expressway opens, Japan’s first expressway segment

   Jul 16, 1963Labels: Meishin Expressway

   • Meishin
   • Web Japan

6. Shuto Expressway expands ahead of Tokyo Olympics

   Oct 1, 1964Labels: Shuto Expressway

   • Shutoko History

7. World Bank approves major loan for Tokyo–Kobe Expressway

   Jul 29, 1966Labels: World Bank

   • World Bank

8. Chūō Expressway’s first section opens (Chōfu–Hachiōji)

   Dec 15, 1967Labels: Ch Expressway

   • Ch

9. Tōmei Expressway opens initial sections

   Jan 1, 1968Labels: T mei

   • T mei

10. Tōmei Expressway completed, linking into Meishin

    Jan 1, 1969Labels: T mei

    • T mei
    • JSCE

11. Higashi-Meihan Expressway begins opening

    Jan 1, 1970Labels: Higashi-Meihan Expressway

    • Higashi Meihan

12. Shuto Expressway completes key trunk plan and adds connectors

    Dec 21, 1971Labels: Shuto Expressway

    • Shutoko 1970s

13. Shuto Expressway connects Route 3 to the Tōmei Expressway

    Dec 21, 1971Labels: Shuto Expressway

    • Shutoko 1970s
    • Shibuya Route

14. National highway expansion enters a mature network phase

    Jan 1, 1985Labels: National Highway

    • HIDO
    • FHWA Japan