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Japanese Advanced Technologies

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Japan's expressways are a collection of technologies, expertise, and systems developed over half a century through experience with diverse and complicated topography, weather, and disasters. Japan's expressways have a "Comprehensive Management System" that boasts the world's leading levels of safety and technology.

In this section we will introduce notable technology that supports safety and reliability.

Safety and Reliability

We have superior technologies cope with various topography, weather, and climate and to ensure safety traffic conditions and make driver feel safe and sound.

Traffic Control

Traffic control roomTraffic control room

Tracking road and traffic conditions around the clock, in order to provide up-to-date road traffic information and respond effectively when unusual situations occur.

Safety Measures

Traditional road surface(left)and high-perfomance road surface(right)Traditional road surface(left)
and high-perfomance road surface(right)

Developing and adopting road performance enhancement technologies in order to prevent accidents, such as high-performance road surfacing that minimizes water-splashing.

Maintenance

Road surface maintenance workRoad surface maintenance work

Maintaining and managing expressways efficiently in order to ensure that roads are constantly kept in safe condition. This includes extensive maintenance work, such as daily inspections and systematic repair work based on medium and long term deterioration forecasts.

Countermeasures against Snow and Ice

Snow removal operationSnow removal operation

Ensuring traffic safety by removing snow and installing snow fences to ensure visibility and so on, as appropriate to regional and climatic characteristics.

Preparation and Response for Disasters

Use of emergency lanes during disastersUse of emergency lanes during disasters

We are well prepared for by making road structure strong against disasteers and knowing how to respond in the case of calamity.

Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake (1)Road Restoration Construction

After 9.0 magnitude Gread East Japan Earthquake occured on March 11, 2011, we were able to provide temporary restoration of emergency lanes that enables that enabled passage of personnel and supplies by next morning. Also, we completed construction thas ensured passage of customers within one week.

Right after the disasterRight after the disaster

Repairing(3 days later)Repairing(3 days later)

Open to traffic(6 days later)Open to traffic(6 days later)

Response to the Great East Japan Earthquake (2)Backup Support

Use of rest area as temporary emergency baseUse of rest area as temporary emergency base

A rest area was used as an emergency base for disaster recovery projects.

Investigation and Inspection Technologies

Developing investigation and inspection technologies to identify structural damage.

Road surface inspection using a high-speed road measurement vehicleRoad surface inspection using
a high-speed road measurement vehicle

Tunnel inspection using a high-speed concrete-crack measurement vehicleTunnel inspection using
a high-speed concrete-crack measurement vehicle