NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office (Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Regional Head Office president: Mikio Kashima) Prediction and measures for traffic congestion in the Tohoku region during the Obon period [14 days from Thursday, August 6 to Wednesday, 19th, 2009] Is summarized.

During the Bon Festival of this year, the charge measures () See Attachment 1 [PDF: 35KB]) Will be carried out, but it is predicted that there will be more congestion than usual every year.

Please refer to the traffic jam forecast and avoid the times when traffic jam is predicted, and make a comfortable travel plan before going out.

1 Congestion prediction

Every year, Expressway in the Tohoku region are congested due to summer festival tourism and the concentration of passengers spending their Obon holidays in their hometowns.

The Bon Festival this year We predict that there will be 26 congestions (14 Out-bound lines, 12 In-bound lines) in the Tohoku Expressway over 10km.

Especially Congestion of more than 30km is expected to occur in Fukushima/Miyagi Prefecture on August 13 (Thursday) on the Out-bound line and August 15 (Saturday) and 16 (Sun) on the In-bound line. doing. (See Attachments 2 and 3 [PDF: 51KB])

[Congestion prediction method]

As an effect of the holiday special discount, traffic congestion based on past traffic congestion records and traffic volume changes is taken into account based on traffic trends based on the traffic volume increase records confirmed during Golden Week, and traffic congestion caused by unusual events such as accidents and traffic closures Excludes and predicts the time and place of traffic congestion.

[Locations where traffic congestion of 10 km or more is predicted] Number of traffic jams: 26 times (14 Out-bound lines, 12 In-bound lines)

"IC" is an interchange, "JCT" is a junction, "PA" is a parking area, and "TN" is a tunnel.

2 Major rest facilities where congestion is expected

We have summarized the rest facilities that are expected to be particularly crowded during the Bon Festival this year, so please refer to them and use them for a comfortable travel plan, such as taking early breaks. ( See Attachments 4 and 5 [PDF:52KB] )

Please note that rest facilities not listed in the table below are expected to be more crowded than usual.

3 Countermeasures for Obon congestion

Tohoku Regional Head Office congestion measures of Bon time in the tube, the present congestion prediction and in light of such as Golden Week traffic conditions, it will implement the initiatives shown below. (See Attachments 6 and 7 [PDF:143KB])

• In-bound speed lowering alert measures in such hill
• Measures to alert the rear end of a traffic jam
• Relieve darkness and oppressive feeling by increasing the illumination of tunnel lighting
• Installation of temporary toilets at rest facilities
• Arrangement of parking lot organizers at rest facilities
• Secure parking for large vehicles

• During the Bon Festival this year, at the rest facilities described in Attachment 5 [PDF: 52KB], we will arrange parking lot organizers to make it easier for large vehicles to use, and secure parking for large vehicles. .. The contents will be made known to the Truck Association and Bus Association.

4 Traffic jam information

NEXCO EAST /Central Japan/West Japan has created a national version of the leaflet “Traffic Forecast” that clearly displays the traffic congestion forecast. It will be distributed at the information corner of SA and each management office of NEXCO EAST.

• Leaflet "Traffic Congestion Forecast Guide" (Distributed at NEXCO EAST SA, etc. Start distribution at the end of July)
• PC "Congestion forecast calendar" ( http://calendar.driveplaza.com/ ) ( Attachment 8 [PDF: 205KB] )
  • You can also access it from the Expressway information site "DraPla" (http://www.driveplaza.com/).
• Mobile phone "Congestion forecast calendar" (http://calendar.driveplaza.com/mobile/) ( Attachment 8 [PDF: 205KB] )
  • You can also access it from the Expressway information site "DraPla Mobile" (http://m.driveplaza.com/).
  "Drive Traffic" (http://m.drivetraffic.jp/) ( Attachment 9 [PDF:236KB] )
  • Expressway provides traffic information (blockages, traffic jams, etc.), charges, and SA/PA information.
    (Service started on June 30, 2009)
• NEXCO東日本お客さまセンター
  0570-024-024　（PHS・IP電話　03-5338-7524）
  • Operators are available 24/7.
• In other major SAs and PAs in the Tohoku region, "driving weather Ch" broadcasts information useful for driving such as weather forecasts and points to note when driving.

• The traffic conditions will change significantly depending on accidents and the weather, so check the road traffic information on the day of use on "Drive Traffic", "DraPla", Japan Road Traffic Information Center, Highway Telephone, etc. Please give me.

5 Request from NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office

• If distributed use is not sufficiently planned, more traffic jams are expected to occur, so please use special discounts during the Obon season, traffic jam prediction information, and the latest road information, and ask for cooperation in distributed use. I will.
• If you notice a traffic jam ahead, please turn on the hazard lamp and cooperate with the following car to prevent a rear-end collision accident.
• Please make sure that you have not forgotten to insert the ETC card or that it is not completely inserted, and then slow down the ETC lane to 20 km/h or less, enter, and drive slowly.
• Most troubles can be prevented by inspecting the vehicle before driving.
  Also, please refuel and take a rest as soon as possible before taking a safe drive.
• If you find an abnormality on the road, use the emergency road dial " #9910 " to immediately evacuate to a safe place and call the emergency phone if an accident or breakdown occurs.
• Wear seat belts in all seats, including the back seats (mandatory from June 1, 2008).