Ban-Etsu Expressway 4 lanes and outline of the completed section this time

1 4 lane construction overview

Ban-Etsu Expressway branches west from the Joban Expressway Iwaki JCT (Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture), and at the Koriyama JCT (Koriyama City Fukushima Prefecture), the Tohoku Expressway, Niigata Chuo JCT (Niigata). It is a highway national highway with a length of approximately 213km that connects to the Hokuriku Expressway in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture.

October 1997, the whole line has been opened by opening the Nishiaizu IC and Tsugawa IC, forming a wide area network with the Joban Expressway, Tohoku Expressway and Hokuriku Expressway It plays an important role in contributing to the economic, industrial, and cultural development of the areas along the southern region.

About 71.4km between Iwaki JCT and Koriyama JCT, we started construction of 4 lanes from March 1999, and 44.2km (62%) have been converted to 4 lanes.

With the completion of this 4-lane conversion, 49.0km (69%) between Iwaki JCT and Koriyama JCT will be converted into 4-lanes.

In addition, the remaining 4 lane construction sections are under construction in all sections, and we are proceeding with the construction aiming for completion of 4 lanes between Iwaki JCT and Koriyama JCT in 2009.

2 Construction overview of the completed section

1. Construction section
   From Iide, Oomachi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima
   To Yoshinobe, Ono-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima
2. Section extension 4.8 kilometers
   Of which earthwork extension 4.4 km
   Bridge extension 0.4 km
3. Number of lanes and design speed
   1. Widening 2 lanes to 4 lanes
   2. Design speed 80km/h
4. expense
   JPY 2.8 billion

3 Effect of completion

1. Improved access
   The average annual traffic volume between the Ono IC and Abukuma Kogen SA is about 10,000 vehicles/day, but during busy periods (summer vacation, holiday season, etc.), there are times when it exceeds 25,000 vehicles/day, and traffic congestion causes traffic congestion and traffic disturbance. Is causing With the completion of the four lanes this time, approximately 70% (49.0km) of the Iwaki JCT-Koriyama JCT (71.4km) will become four lanes, further reducing congestion and traffic disturbance due to traffic concentration, and making it easier to access tourist destinations. It is expected that this will improve and that smooth and comfortable driving will be possible.
2. Median strip improves safety
   Guardrails and concrete protection fences have been installed in the median strip due to four lanes. It prevents the oncoming lane from jumping out, which improves safety and reduces the number of roads blocked from crossing due to an accident.

4 Features of construction

(1) Efforts to reduce costs
1. Reuse of guardrail
The guardrail in the section completed this time is re-plated and reused for the guardrail removed by other construction and maintenance work, which contributes to the reduction of construction cost.

(2) Environmental efforts
1. The Ban-Etsu Expressway (Iwaki JCT-Koriyama JCT) 4 lane construction has been used to forest the embankment slope to prevent global warming.

2. We have been proactively reusing the removed guardrails to protect the environment and promote the recycling of construction byproducts.