(Construction) - Against the backdrop of the results from regular road inspections which started in July 2014, three major expressway companies in East, Central, and West Japan have disclosed the outline of a renewal plan.
A total of 1,004 billion yen will be invested to revamp 512 kilometers of highways. Metropolitan Expressway Company allocates 305.6 billion yen for 21.6 kilometers, while the Hanshin Expressway Company commits 216.9 billion yen for 22.4 kilometers. With plans to commence renovations in the fiscal year 2024, the companies aim to secure project approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism within the fiscal year 2023 ending March 2024.
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The breakdown of facilities earmarked for renewal includes: East, Central, and West Japan Expressway Companies: 58 kilometers of bridges, 454 kilometers of pavement. Metropolitan Expressway Company: 0.3 kilometers of tunnels, 21.3 kilometers of bridges. Hanshin Expressway Company: 7.8 kilometers of tunnels, 14.6 kilometers of bridges.
The three companies in East, Central, and West Japan are actively promoting measures such as transitioning to highly durable materials for pavement substructures and injecting fillers into prestressed concrete bridges. They aim to complete these projects within 15 years.
Metropolitan Expressway and Hanshin Expressway, on the other hand, have adopted a strategy of packaging necessary measures for each structure, enhancing the efficiency of repairs. Facility names earmarked for renovation, including the Haneda Tunnel in Tokyo and the Shin-Kobe Tunnel in Kobe City, are explicitly incorporated into their plans.
In light of aging infrastructure, expressway companies are shifting their investment focus from new construction and reconstruction to management and renewal. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, the proportion of management and renewal costs to the total investment made by the three companies in the fiscal year 2022 has increased to 71.3%, marking a significant 23.8-point rise from 47.5% in the fiscal year 2006. (2024/01/17)
The Daily Engineering and Construction News of Japan
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