Officially, the route is designated as National Route 475.[2] On some signs, the expressway is represented in Japanese as 東海環状道; this is done to prevent confusion with the Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway.
Although the road is named as an expressway, it is not recognized as a national expressway. Officially it is a national highway for motor vehicles only (一般国道の自動車専用道路, Ippan Kokudō no Jidōsha Senyō Dōro)[3] (motor vehicles must have a displacement of at least 125 cc). However, the design standard of the Tōkai-Kanjō Expressway is similar to most national expressways.
Overview
Once completed, the expressway will form a 160 km ring road for the Tōkai Region.[4] It is hoped that the expressway will reduce traffic congestion, link important industrial and manufacturing centers in the region, and facilitate access to Chubu International Airport and tourist areas in rural Gifu Prefecture.
Currently 73 km of the route has been opened to traffic. This section was opened in 2005 to coincide with the opening of Expo 2005 in Aichi Prefecture. There are 4 lanes of traffic from Toyota-higashi Junction to Toki Junction, and 2 lanes from Toki Junction to Mino-Seki Junction.
