Kasa Tunnel (笠トンネル)

The Kasa Tunnel is the tunnel running between Kita Ward and Ukyo Ward of Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture.

Summary

The Kasa Tunnel is the tunnel for the National Road No. 162, running directly beneath the Kasa Pass. Opened for traffic in March, 1973, this tunnel has a length of 1199m, (width: 8 m), which is the third longest tunnel of National Road No. 162, next to the Hatagoyama Tunnel that is also linked to National Road No. 27, and the Horikoshi Tunnel located at the border of Fukui Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture. This is the only tunnel that connects the Shuzan region with Kyoto City, so the road in this tunnel has the highest traffic volume of all the roads in this area.

Usage of the tunnel

This tunnel houses a two-lane road illuminated with many lights. The speed limit of this section of the road outside of this tunnel is set at 50km/h, but while the speed limit inside of this tunnel is set at 40km/h. The traffic volume of this tunnel is high as it was built for the Shuzan-Kaido Road, the National Road No. 162, which is used by various type of vehicles such as the freight tractor-trailers or touring motorcycles.

Location of the tunnel

Onokamino-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture - Keihoku Hosono-cho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto Prefecture

[Original Japanese]