Construction of the 'Asahi-Onnami Section' of the Japan Sea Coastal Tohoku Expressway is underway, encompassing the construction of 21 large tunnels and 26 bridges.
Excavation work for Tunnel No. 9 is nearing completion, and full-scale land acquisition and tunnel/bridge construction are scheduled to begin in 2024.
Upon completion, the project is expected to bring positive impacts such as improved regional transportation convenience, industrial revitalization, and increased tourism, but the exact opening date remains unclear.
The Tohoku Expressway stretches north-south along the coast of the Sea of Japan. Construction is currently underway on the "Asahi-Onnami section" located in the border area between Niigata and Yamagata Prefectures. A significant portion of the 40.8km section traverses mountain ranges, necessitating large-scale tunnel construction.
Around May 20th, the excavation work for Tunnel No. 9 (tentative name) on the Niigata Prefecture side is scheduled to be completed. Once this tunnel is pierced, it is expected that the remaining tunnels will also be completed in succession. Currently, construction on 3 tunnels, Tunnel No. 1, No. 4, and the Daiamgawa Tunnel (all tentative names), has been finished. Excavation work is underway for 5 other tunnels: Tunnel No. 2, No. 9, No. 11, the Noguchi Tunnel, and the Shoamgawa No. 1 Tunnel (all tentative names).
A total of 21 large tunnels are planned for this entire Asahi-Onnami section, reflecting the mountainous terrain of the area. The total length of the tunnels within this section exceeds 20km, giving you an idea of its immense scale.
In addition to tunnel construction, 26 bridge construction projects are also progressing steadily. However, only 2 bridges have been completed so far. In 2024, it is anticipated that construction will accelerate across the board, encompassing land acquisition, improvement work, tunnel construction, and bridge substructure work.
Upon completion, this section is expected to significantly enhance transportation convenience in the Sea of Japan coastal region. The establishment of a new expressway network in this area, currently reliant on National Route 7, is anticipated to have positive impacts, including industrial revitalization and attracting tourists.
However, full-scale construction has yet to commence in a large portion of the construction area, making it difficult to accurately predict the exact opening date. Nonetheless, we eagerly anticipate the completion of this section as soon as possible, as it promises to alleviate chronic traffic congestion on National Route 7 and minimize the impact of heavy snowfall and blizzards during winter.