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Regarding the snowfall situation in the winter of 2022 on Expressway in Niigata Prefecture

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May 30, 2020
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Niigata Regional Head Office

NEXCO EAST Niigata Regional Head Office Office (Chuo-ku, Niigata City) We will report on the snowfall situation (traffic accidents, road closures) and cold wave response within the jurisdiction.

Points for the winter of 2022

  1. The average snowfall in the jurisdiction (November 2024 to March 2023) is 363 cm. About 10% decrease (▲39 cm) compared to the average for the past five years (2017-2021).
  2. The number of accidents in the jurisdiction in winter (November 2024 to March 2023) was 580. Compared to the average of the past 5 years (2017-2021), it decreased by about 20% (-134 cases).
  3. In winter (November 2024 to March 2023), the number of traffic closures in the jurisdiction is 74 times. Compared to the average of the past 5 years (2017-2021), it decreased by about 20% (-21 cases).
  4. The reason for the decrease in the number of accidents in the jurisdiction is that the average amount of snowfall in the jurisdiction decreased, planned snow and ice countermeasure work, strengthening of winter warning publicity, increase in sight guide lights, etc. It is possible.
  5. 1月24日から強い冬型の気圧配置となり、今冬一番の非常に強い寒気が流入し、大雪になりました。そのため、国土交通省北陸地方整備局等の関係機関と緊密に連携した上で、高速道路と直轄国道の同時通行止め（上越地域にて最長14時間）を行い、集中的に除雪作業を行いました。
  6. In our group, we suspended some operations such as visitor counters and meetings from January 23 to 26 with the aim of suppressing traffic during heavy snow.
視線誘導灯増設前の事故写真及び事故イメージ図のイメージ画像
視線誘導灯増設前の事故写真及び事故イメージ図
視線誘導灯増設後の写真
視線誘導灯増設後

1. snowfall situation

Image of the average amount of snowfall in the jurisdiction
  • The average snowfall in the jurisdiction (November 2024 to March 2023) is 363 cm.
  • ​About 10% decrease (▲39 cm) compared to the average for the past five years (2017-2021).
  • The average snowfall in the jurisdiction in December 2024 and January 2023 increased by about 10% compared to the past five-year average (December: -14 cm, January: -6 cm).
  • The average snowfall within the jurisdiction in February 2023 was 87 cm, a decrease of about 30% (▲43 cm) compared to the past five-year average.
  • The reason for the increase in the average amount of snowfall in the service area in December and January is considered to be that the winter-type pressure pattern continued and was strongly affected by the cold air.
  • The reason for the decrease in the average snowfall within the service area in February is thought to be that the winter-type atmospheric pressure pattern did not continue and the cold air did not have much effect.
Photograph of the situation at the time of heavy snowfall (December 2022)
Situation during heavy snowfall (December 2022)
Photograph of work to secure lanes with a rotary snowplow
Lane securing work status by rotary snowplow

2. Traffic accident situation

Image of the number of accidents in the jurisdiction and the average amount of snowfall in the jurisdiction
  • 冬期（令和4年11月～令和5年3月）の管内事故件数※は、580件。
  • Compared to the average of the past 5 years (2017-2021), it decreased by about 20% (-134 cases).
  • The reason for the decrease in the number of accidents in the jurisdiction is that the average amount of snowfall in the jurisdiction decreased, planned snow and ice countermeasure work, strengthening of winter warning publicity, increase in sight guide lights, etc. It is possible.
  • 特に、令和5年2月の管内事故件数は、過去5年平均と比べ、約4割減少（▲72件）し、98件。
    ※NEXCO東日本新潟支社調べ

[Reference: Accident occurrence status throughout the year in 2022]

Image image of the accident occurrence situation throughout the year of 2022

Looking at the whole year of 2022, you can see that many accidents occur in winter.

3. Road closure situation

Image of the number of traffic closures in the jurisdiction and the average amount of snowfall in the jurisdiction
  • In winter (November 2024 to March 2023), the number of traffic closures in the jurisdiction is 74 times.
  • ​About 20% decrease (-21 times) compared to the past 5-year average (2017-2021).
  • The average snowfall within the jurisdiction in January 2023 increased compared to the past five-year average. On the other hand, the number of traffic closures within the jurisdiction decreased by about 50% (-22 times) compared to the average of the past five years, to 19 times.
  • The reasons for the decrease in the number of traffic closures within the jurisdiction are said to be the increased safety awareness of winter roads due to enhanced publicity during the winter season, and the timely and appropriate snow removal work, which resulted in fewer situations leading to traffic closures such as blocking lanes. It is possible.

Four. About cold wave correspondence

  1. December 18-20, 2022
    • Due to the occurrence of JPCZ (Japan Sea Polar Air Mass Convergence Zone), from December 18th to 20th, Niigata Prefecture experienced heavy snow that exceeded the weather forecast. As the snowfall intensified, multiple accidents occurred at the same time from the evening of the 18th, causing Expressway closures for a wide area and for a long time. In particular, it took up to 52 hours to lift the road closures in the Nagaoka and Kashiwazaki areas, causing vehicles to stagnate on National Routes 8 and 17.
  2. January 24-30, 2023
    • Due to the fear of the strongest cold air coming in this winter, an emergency announcement was made jointly by five organizations (Niigata Local Meteorological Observatory, etc.).
    • From January 24th, a strong winter-type atmospheric pressure pattern began, and the coldest air of the winter flowed in, resulting in heavy snowfall. Therefore, in close cooperation with related organizations such as the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, we implemented a simultaneous closure of Expressway and directly controlled national highways (up to 14 hours in the Joetsu area). In the Joetsu region, it snowed up to 10 cm per hour, but we cooperated with related organizations and carried out intensive snow removal.
    • Due to the forecast of heavy snowfall over a wide area in Niigata Prefecture, in addition to the previous publicity about refraining from going out, For the purpose of restraining traffic, the Group will suspend some operations such as visitor counters and meetings from January 23rd to 26th. Did.
5機関による緊急共同会見の写真
5機関による緊急共同会見
来客窓口のイメージ画像

Five. Measures against snow and ice for next winter

In addition to continuing snow and ice countermeasures such as increasing the number of web cameras to grasp the local situation and effectively disseminating information that leads to behavioral changes, we will also work on the following new measures.

  1. Strengthening measures to reduce actual speeds to avoid serious accidents
  2. Reinforcement of publicity alerts in early winter (December)

NEXCO EAST Group has positioned the period from 2021 to 2025 as "a period to contribute to the achievement of SDGs and transform toward a new future society", and is conducting various initiatives.
Regarding this "Regarding the snowfall situation in the winter of 2022 on Expressway in Niigata Prefecture", as a business activity that leads to the provision of safe road space, etc., SDGs goals 3, 9, 11, and 13 I think it will contribute.

Image of the SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS logo and the 3rd, 9th, 11th, and 13th SDGs logos
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