In short: Rt.140, a vital link between Saitama and Yamanashi isn’t yet open to bikes due to a rock fall. And what is the West Kanto Connecting Road?

If you’ve tried to ride Rt.140 from Saitama to Yamanashi since July 11, you’ll know that you can’t get through. You can get around 50km in from Yamanashi and 20km in from Chichibu. You may have also noticed that there’s a tunnel there open to cars, trucks and moped-class motorbikes that is far from finished. So what’s going on there? A fair bit more than just tunnel bypass…

The Izu Skyline isn’t just a road, it’s a 40.6 km ribbon of asphalt that carves a breathtaking path along the eastern spine of the Izu Peninsula. This is where riders and drivers come to experience freedom on winding roads, with magnificent, sweeping views of Mount Fuji on one side and the deep blue of Sagami Bay on the other. It’s an undulating, scenic ripper of a road that has drawn enthusiasts since its opening in the early 1960s.
However, on October 1st, after nearly 50 years, the Shizuoka Prefectural Road Public Corporation is implementing some key revisions aimed at ensuring this iconic route remains a safe and unforgettable experience for many more years.