[E18] Joshin-Etsu Expressway In-bound Line Saku IC ⇒ Usui Karuizawa IC
Continuous lane restrictions day and night due to tunnel renewal work and
Notice of nighttime road closure

  • Corporate Top
  • Press Room
  • Press Release Kanto Regional Head Office
  • [E18] Joshin-Etsu Expressway In-bound Line between Saku IC and Usui Karuizawa IC Notice of day and night continuous lane restrictions and night traffic closure due to tunnel renewal construction

トンネルリニューアル工事にともなう上信越道 佐久IC⇒碓氷軽井沢IC(上り線)の夜間通行止め予定日は変更となりました。
詳細はこちらからご確認ください。

The latest regulatory information isDraTraPlease see.

PDF version [PDF: 870KB]

Expressway renewal project logo image image 1

February 1, 2020
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Nagano construction office

NEXCO EAST At the Nagano Construction Office (Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture), E18 Joshin-Etsu Expressway (hereinafter referred to as "Joshinetsu Expressway") between Saku Interchange (hereinafter referred to as "IC") and Usui Karuizawa IC On the In-bound line, Due to the renewal work of the aging Akarusan Tunnel, we will implement continuous lane restrictions day and night and nighttime road closures. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we ask that you comply with the speed limit and cooperate in driving safely within the regulated zone.
In addition, due to lane restrictions, traffic congestion is predicted to occur mainly on Sundays in March ~ April. If you plan to use the target section, please check the traffic information on websites such as "DraTra", change the time of use, and use it with plenty of time. This is necessary for the safe and comfortable use of Expressway, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation in the construction.

1. 1. Overview of lane regulations

Route E18 Joshin-Etsu Expressway
section In-bound line Saku IC ⇒ Usui Karuizawa IC
Implementation period Continuous lane regulation day and night
Monday, March 4, 2020 - Friday, May 17, 2020
*Excluding some periods
For details, please see "4. Lane restriction period"
Time zone 24 hours (all day)
Construction content Tunnel reinforcement work (please see “7. Construction overview of tunnel reinforcement work”)

Construction image photo (past construction)

Photo of protective fence installation status
Protection fence installation situation
Photo of invert excavation situation
Invert drilling situation
Image of concrete placement
Concrete placing situation
Photo of completed concrete pouring
Concrete placing completion status

Lane regulation schematic diagram

Image image of driving lane regulation
Image image of passing lane regulation

When driving, please follow local signs, etc., and drive safely.

  • Regulation extension: Approximately 3.0km

2. Overview of road closure

Route E18 Joshin-Etsu Expressway
section In-bound line Saku IC ⇒ Usui Karuizawa IC
Implementation period schedule
①Wednesday, March 6, 2020
②Monday, March 18, 2020
Preparation day
① Thursday, March 7, 2020, Friday, March 8, 2020
②March 19, 2020 (Tuesday), March 20, 2020 (Wednesday, holiday)
  • In stormy weather, it will be postponed to the spare day.
  • The decision to proceed with construction will be announced on X (formerly Twitter) etc. around 5:00 pm on the day of construction.
Time zone From 22:00 pm to 6:00 the next morning
Construction content Tunnel reinforcement work (please see “7. Construction overview of tunnel reinforcement work”)

3. Construction section

Joshinetsu Expressway In-bound Line Saku IC ⇒ Usui Karuizawa IC

  1. Lane regulation section
  2. Image of lane regulation section
  3. Closed section
  4. Image image of closed section

Four. About lane restriction period

Regulation period: March 4, 2020 (Monday) to May 17, 2020 (Friday) *Excluding some periods

Image of the calendar for March 2020 during the regulatory period
Image of the calendar for April 2020 during the regulation period
Image of the calendar for May 2020 during the regulation period
Legend image image
Image of predicted traffic jam times on days when traffic jams will occur
  • Lane restrictions will be enforced day and night on weekends and holidays.
  • Traffic congestion is predicted to occur every Sunday from March to April during the construction period.
  • During the lane restriction period, we ask for your cooperation in detouring around construction zones and avoiding peak hours in order to alleviate traffic congestion.
  • The regulation period may change depending on the weather and work progress.
  • Actual traffic conditions may differ from predictions due to accidents or weather conditions, so please check the latest traffic information before departing.

Five. Request when passing special vehicles

Due to the latest traffic regulations, special vehicles over 3.0m in width will not be allowed to pass during the day and night continuous lane regulation period. For those using the service, please take a detour to nearby roads.
Also, please note that if special vehicle permission (*) has been obtained only for Expressway, you will also need to obtain permission for general roads.

  • What is special vehicle passage permission?
    Based on the Road Law and the Vehicle Restriction Ordinance, this is a permit required for special vehicles that exceed general restrictions (length, weight, vehicle width, etc.) to pass on public roads.

6. Regarding connection adjustments due to road closures

For customers who temporarily leave Expressway due to road closures, detour through the closed section, re-enter and transfer in the forward direction, we will implement "transfer adjustment" in which the toll fee will be adjusted according to the section used. Masu.
(See Attachment 2 [PDF: 151KB])

Transfer IC

Closed place Outflow designation IC Re-inflow IC
[Joshinetsu Expressway] (In-bound line)
Saku IC → Usui Karuizawa IC
[Joshinetsu Expressway] (In-bound line)
Komoro IC, Saku IC
[Chubu Crossroad] (In-bound line)
Sakukita IC - Yachiho Kogen IC
[Joshinetsu Expressway] (In-bound)
Usui Karuizawa IC, Matsuida Myoyoshi IC, Shimonita IC
  • Since the Chubu Odan Expressway is a free section, there is no tollhouse at each IC.

How to use transit adjustment

ETC customers

  • For customers using ETC, please drive wirelessly at designated outflow ICs, and also wirelessly drive at re-inflow ICs. (Transfer certificates are not issued for ETC vehicles)
  • ETC time zone discount will be applied, considering the transited journey as one.
    Toll charges are adjusted at the time of billing, so they may differ from those displayed at the toll gate.
  • Insert the same ETC card for all journeys and pass through the ETC lane at the tollgate.

Customers such as cash

  • Customers paying with cash, etc. should receive a "transfer certificate" at the outflow designated IC, then take a "transit ticket" at the re-inflow IC, and then take the "transition certificate" at the toll booth where they pay the toll for the first time. Please hand over your ``book'' and ``traffic ticket.''

Common to ETC and cash customers

  • If the suspension of traffic is released after the outflow designated IC is released, the fare will be adjusted even if it is re-introduced from the IC (including the outflow designated IC) in the closed road section in the forward direction.

7. Construction outline of tunnel reinforcement work

At the Ding-Ryuyama Tunnel, which is located between the Saku IC ⇒ the Usui Karuizawa IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway In-bound Line, we will carry out tunnel reinforcement work to prevent bumps and damage to the road surface due to the expansion of the ground around the tunnel. In March ~ May of Reiwa 6, inverts will be installed. Among them, on March 6 (Wednesday) and March 18 (Monday) in Reiwa 6, we will close the road at night to assemble and dismantle excavation machinery. Since these works cannot be carried out under normal lane restrictions, the road will be closed on weekday evenings when traffic is low. This is necessary for the safe and comfortable use of Expressway, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

Main work contents

In order to create a stronger ring-shaped structure for the tunnel, which is subject to excessive force from around the tunnel, concrete (invert) will be installed to improve stability. Specifically, after the road surface is excavated, an invert will be installed to reinforce the tunnel bottom, and then paving work will be carried out to restore the road to a drivable road.

Image image before construction
Image image after construction
  • What is an invert?...The bottom of the tunnel is joined to the inverted arch by concrete, which increases bearing strength and prevents subsidence and deformation.

8. Requests when using

  1. Due to construction, continuous lane restrictions will be implemented day and night for approximately 3.0km on In-bound line, reducing the current two lanes in each direction to one lane. The lane widths are narrow in sections with continuous lane restrictions day and night, so please comply with the speed limit when driving, maintain a safe distance between vehicles, and be careful to avoid rear-end collisions. Also, depending on the progress of the construction work, lane positions may change, so please drive with caution.
  2. Construction vehicles may come and go around the construction site, so please be careful when driving ahead.
  3. During the construction period, traffic flow may be affected due to heavy traffic. Before heading out, please check the latest lane regulations and traffic information on the websites listed in "9. How to obtain traffic information." Also, please leave plenty of time when using the service.
  4. During the construction period, we will use LED information boards and road signs to provide construction regulation information and call attention to driving safely. Please check this information before driving and drive safely.

9. How to obtain traffic information

(1) Guidance by distribution / posting

  • Information on posters, leaflets and digital signage will be posted at nearby tollhouses, SA / PA.
  • A banner will be posted on the overpass on the Expressway.

(2) Road traffic information that can be obtained before going out

(3) Road traffic information available while using the Expressway

  • Road information board
  • Highway radio (AM1620kHz)
    The highway radio section is indicated by signs on the Expressway.
  • Highway Information Terminal
    Wide-area road information is provided in an easy-to-understand manner on the monitor screens installed in SA / PA.
  • Information is also distributed on official X (formerly Twitter) and LINE accounts.
    [X (old Twitter)]
    "NEXCO EAST (Kanto)" (@e_nexco_kanto) Real-time traffic information
    “NEXCO EAST (Kanto Construction Regulations)” (@e_nexco_kanto_k) Decision to implement construction regulations
    [LINE]
    "NEXCO EAST" (@e-nexco) Road closures and weather information
Expressway renewal project logo image image 2

Expressway renewal project
Now, safety and security are passed on to the next generation.
NEXCO EAST will work on the renewal and repair business of Expressway in order to deliver safety and security to everyone.
Or search for "high-speed renewal".

The NEXCO EAST Group has positioned the period from 2021 to 2025 as "a period that contributes to the achievement of the SDGs and transforms into a new future society," and is making various efforts.
We believe that this "renewal work" initiative will contribute to the SDGs goals No. 8, 9, and 11 as business activities that lead to the development of safe, secure, and reliable infrastructure.

Image image of the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS logo and the 8th, 9th, and 11th logos of the SDGs target
Image link (external link) to download page of Adobe Acrobat Reader

To view the PDF file, you need the Adobe Systems plug-in software "Acrobat Reader (Japanese version)". If you do not have​​​ Download from here (free)Please use it.