Japan Earthquake Road Construction

[cityimrov]

I can't read Japanese so I can't verify this but if this is true, how in this possible?  Look at section 4 of this press release. 

http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/press_release/kanto/h23/0316f/

Could we have started road construction 4 days after a disaster? 

[acme54321]

Who knows, but better sooner than later!

[Shwaz]

Here is the page translated via Google.

(Part 30)
Status of the highway due to earthquake northeastern Pacific Ocean (Kanto branch)
March 16, 2011
Currently 15 12:00
East Expressway Company Limited
Kanto branch
Kanto branch NEXCO East (Taito), the highway about the damage caused by the earthquake that occurred off the northeastern Pacific Ocean 46 minutes at 14:00 on March 11, 2011, emergency response headquarters in the Kanto Kanto branch offices (Headquarters : Hazime Makoto Ishikawa, Regional Director) launched simultaneously with the further confirmation of disaster situation, we are working to give the best to restore damaged areas.
The northeast branch pipe information will be posted on our website so, please visit there.
1. Cancellation of traffic stop (see chart below is the only situation we Kanto branch pipe)
Closure of a section of the table and cleared to 15:00 on March 16.
Road name
Direction
Interval
Remarks
Seki Kita 東道
East and west
Ibaraki - Ibaraki Nishityou Azumatyou

The closure period after release is blocked in the above table as follows.
Road name
Direction
Interval
Remarks
東北道
Up and down
Urawa - Shirakawa
Designated emergency lanes section
東北道
Upstream
Urawa - JCT Kawaguti

Joban Expressway
Up and down
Mito - Iwaki Nakoso
Designated emergency lanes section
Seki Kita 東道
East and west
Sano Tanuma - JCT Iwahune

Seki Kita 東道
East and west
Tsuga Tsuga Totigi JCT ~

Seki Kita 東道
East and west
Minami Ibaraki - Mito Higashityou

Mito Road East
East and west
Mito - South Hitachinaka

Seki Azuma road
Up and down
Ibaraki town Ibaraki Airport north of JCT ~

2. Designated transport routes for emergencies (no change from previous announcements)
Section that the emergency lanes are designated as Public Safety Committee is as follows.
Road name
Direction
Interval
Remarks
東北道
Up and down
Urawa - Ikarigaseki
[IC] and from non-Yabuki, South Koriyama, Motomiya, Nihonmatsu, Kunimi
Akita road
Up and down
JCT ~ north north west

Kamaishi road
Up and down
JCT ~ Touwa Hanamaki

Hatinohe road
Up and down
JCT ~ Nangou Ashiro

Joban Expressway
Up and down
Mito - Chuo Iwaki
- Yamamoto Watari
Iwaki Yumoto IC - and out - no
Iwao 越道
Up and down
Tsugawa - Iwaki JCT
[IC] and from non-Iwaki Miwa, Ono, Miharu Hunehiki, Bandai Atami, Plateau Inawashiro Bandai, Bandai Katou, Aidubange, Nishiaidu
Sendai East Road
Up and down
JCT Watari - Sendai Wakabayashi

Sendai road north
Up and down
Tomiya Rihu JCT JCT ~

Sendai Nanbu Road
Up and down
JCT JCT ~ Minami Sendai Sendai Wakabayashi
Miyagi Prefectural Road Public Corporation Management
Sanriku Expressway
Up and down
JCT ~ Touwa Tome Rihu IC
Section, including the Ministry of Land Management and Miyagi Prefectural Road Public Corporation
※ Emergency and transport routes are for emergency vehicles and personnel necessary to carry materials such as emergency disaster measures (which issued the Prefectural Public Safety Commission and the prefectural governor or a designated emergency vehicle equipped with red light "check mark passing emergency vehicles "Vehicles are posted) to secure transport routes, the roads specified by the Public Safety Commission. In the general section of the target vehicle Please note that not all traffic.
3. Closure of the rest area
Tomobe Joban Expressway service areas (vertical), Kasama road parking area Kanto (eastbound, westbound), the damage has occurred due to the earthquake by building water and repair after termination of the mainline freeway closure until the close the rest area. Customers are great, but the inconvenience, please understand.
4. Status and restoration of roads damaged
The Great Kanto branch pipe is the most damage, Naka Mito Joban IC ~ IC (up line) is. Are currently working diligently recovery.

5. Passage of emergency vehicles
March 19 (Sat) Oota Kiryuu Kanto Expressway scheduled to open in time between the 15 IC ⇒ IC Sano Tanuma, a parallel situation is usually even more crowded and the relationship between Route 50 disaster recovery Yes, if requested by the emergency vehicle traffic, and I can travel to.

[cityimrov]

Can you translate what it says under the picture? 


They also released a new article with a new picture here http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/press_release/kanto/h23/0318a/

[Shwaz]

Unfortunately chrome doesn't translate the picture captions.

[buckethead]

Before: After?

[Shwaz]

Before: After?

Judging by the foliage it would appear so.

[cityimrov]

http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/press_release/kanto/h23/0320/



So basically, a complete road section reconstructed in one week?  Is that typical in road construction work? 

[JSquared]

The picture of gaping chasms in a Japanese highway demonstrated the power of the March 11 earthquake.  Now the astonishing speed of reconstruction is being used to highlight the nation’s ability to get back on its feet.  Work began on March 17 and six days later the cratered section of the Great Kanto Highway in Naka was as good as new. It was ready to re-open to traffic last night.

More here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369307/Japan-tsunami-earthquake-Road-repaired-SIX-days-destroyed.html

[Timkin]

http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/pressroom/press_release/kanto/h23/0320/



So basically, a complete road section reconstructed in one week?  Is that typical in road construction work? 

If it is , FDOT needs to take note

[cityimrov]

Well, to be fair, I think Japan pays more for their road construction.  Their companies hire fully salaried, well paid, fully benefited, and highly trained and experienced road construction workers.  (I haven't verified it but from what I've seen that's what it sounds like).  Road construction is a lifelong career option for them over there. 

From the people I talked to here, our companies hire temporary day laborers who shows up at a day laboring recruiting firm with no training and no experience necessary and I think their take home pay is very low after all the "extra recruiting, transportation, and transaction fees" are taken out.  I don't think they also have any heath benefits either.  I don't think those companies treat them nicely too.  Road construction jobs here suck. 

[Shwaz]

Ironically, their cost per project is most likely 10x less than ours in the U.S.