[E51] The Higashi-Kanto Expressway Mito Line (between Hokoda IC and Ibaraki Airport North IC) will open in February 2018.

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NEXCO EAST (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) is under construction E51 Higashi-Kanto Expressway We are pleased to inform you that the section from Mikata Line's Hokoda Interchange (IC) to Ibaraki Airport North IC (approximately 9km in length) will be open in February 2018.

The following effects are expected from this opening.

The date and time of opening will be announced again based on future construction progress.

Expected main opening effect

Outline of opening section

[Opening section] Hokoda IC (Ikeda, Ibaraki Prefecture) ~ Ibaraki Airport North IC (Tobaeda, Ibaraki Town, Higashi Ibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture)
[Extension] 8.8km

Outline of opening section

Status of the open section

Hokota IC

Ibaraki Airport North IC

-Contribute to strengthening cooperation between neighboring cities by improving accessibility-

• With this opening, the time required from JR Hokota City to JR Mito Station in the center of Ibaraki Prefecture About 7 minutes reduced It is expected that the accessibility will be improved.
• Furthermore, when the Higashi-Kanto Expressway Mito Line in Ibaraki Prefecture is fully opened, JR Mito Station from Itako City About 20 minutes It is expected that this will contribute to strengthening cooperation between neighboring cities.

-Improvement of transportation convenience for agricultural products by expanding road network-

• Ibaraki Prefecture has the largest shipment of melon, which is a special product, in Japan, and the largest amount of shipment is from Hokoda City in the prefecture. It is expected that the sales area will be Large and the transportation quality will be improved.
• Also, Kashima Port (*International Bulk Strategic Port) is the number one importer of corn in Japan. It is expected that accessibility to the northern Kanto region, where the amount of livestock production is high, will be improved.
• This opening is expected to revitalize local industries such as Large consumption.

• 国際バルク戦略港湾：資源、エネルギー食料等の安定的かつ安価な供給のため選定された港湾

～Expected to activate tourism～

• About 50% of the number of tourists visiting Ibaraki is from outside the prefecture, and the number of tourists outside the prefecture is on the rise.
• With this opening, the accessibility of the surrounding Expressway network is improved, and it is expected to attract tourists in a wide area.
• The number of overseas tours and tours of Ibaraki Prefecture is increasing year by year. Further promotion of inbound tourism is expected.
• Furthermore, when the Higashi-Kanto Expressway Mito Line in Ibaraki Prefecture is fully opened, it will be networked with other Expressway, improving accessibility to nearby tourist resources and increasing opportunities for excursions.

-Securing local safety and security (securing redundancy in the event of a disaster)-

• Higashi-Kanto Expressway Mito Line, Joban Expressway, and National Highway No. 51 were designated as "First Emergency Transport Roads", but some of them were impassable during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
• Among them, the Higashi-Kanto Expressway Mito Line in Ibaraki Prefecture was released 5 days after the disaster on March 11, and was used as an alternative route to National Road No. 51, which was closed at that time.
• In the future, the maintenance of the Mito Line of the Higashi-Kanto Expressway Ibaraki Prefecture will further secure alternative roads in the event of a disaster, strengthening the emergency transportation road network and ensuring the safety and security of the area.