NEXCO EAST (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) is constructing Doto Expressway Yubari interchange (IC) to Shimukappu (Shimukappu) IC, and Do-O Expressway. There will be an opening between the Mori IC and the Otoshibe IC.

In addition, at Doto Expressway, two rest facilities will be newly opened: Yuni (Yuni) Parking Area (PA) and Shimukappu (Shimukappu) PA.

Opening section (location) and opening date

Outline of opening section

[Between Doto Expressway Yubari IC and Shimukappu IC]
Doto Expressway Yubari IC to Shimukappu, which has been in operation for the opening of traffic in the fall of 2011, has passed through the Hobetsu tunnel over 4,000m, which was difficult to construct due to the weak geology. , We are enthusiastically proceeding with pavement work for finishing roads, equipment work such as tunnel disaster prevention, and construction work, and it is now open for traffic.
With this opening, the central and eastern regions will be connected by Expressway, ensuring safer, more secure and comfortable access, streamlining of logistics, and Large in the tourism area and between regions. It is expected that cooperation will be strengthened.

(Please see our website for more information on the Doto Expressway.

[Do-O Expressway between Mori IC and Ochibe IC]
The Do-O Expressway between the Mori IC and the Ochibe IC, which was in operation as a planned opening in the fall of 2011, will be completed after the tunnel construction of the Washinoki site, which is a nationally designated historic site, is completed. We are enthusiastically working on construction such as this, and it will be opened this time.

With this opening, the Expressway will be extended to the south of Hokkaido, and in addition to the enhancement of logistics functions by improving punctuality, the redundancy as an emergency transportation route in the event of a disaster such as heavy rain or tsunami will be secured.

[Doto Expressway Yuni PA, Shimukappu PA]
The two resting facilities, Yuni PA and Shimukappu PA, which have been operating as planned for completion in 2011, will be newly completed on the Doto Expressway.

Completion of these two PAs will further improve the convenience for passengers using Expressway.

【Location map】

[Current situation of the section opened this time]
■ Doto Expressway between Yubari IC and Shimukappu IC

■ Do-O Expressway between Mori IC and Ochibe IC

■ Doto Expressway Yuni PA

■ Doto Expressway Shimukappu PA

Features of the open section

1. Between Yubari IC and Shimukappu IC
(1) Outline of open section
Doto Expressway started construction of Ikeda from Tokachi Shimizu in 1990 and was opened in 1995 as the first Expressway in the Eastern Hokkaido area. After that, Yubari opened from Chitose Eniwa JCT, and the construction between Yubari and Tokachi Shimizu, which penetrates the Yubari Mountains and the Hidaka Mountains, proceeded from 1991, and from Tomamu to Tokachi Shimizu, 2007. From year to year, Shimukappu opened tomamu.

This open section is a road consisting of 8 tunnels including 20 tunnels, including 3 tunnels of 4,000m class that pass through the mountainous areas of the Yubari Mountains.

(2) Overcoming tunnel excavation in fragile geology
Located in the southernmost part of the Yubari Mountains in this opening section, it runs through the Kamuikotan Hensaitai, which is said to have the largest distribution of serpentinite (jamon cancer) in Japan. ..

The characteristic of serpentinite is that it is extremely brittle and expands, and it has been a difficult factor in the construction of the JR Ishikatsu Line. In the two tunnels, Hobetsu and Shimukappu (Shimukappu), which were constructed this time, the overburden (thickness of soil on the tunnel) is large, so the pressure on the tunnel wall is also strong. Combined with the fragile geology, during the excavation, the tip of the excavation and the tunnel ceiling collapsed and many tunnel supports (members supporting the tunnel) were deformed.

As measures against these collapses, auxiliary construction methods such as mirror reinforcement work (preventing the collapse of the excavation tip) and pre-installation work (preventing the collapse of the ceiling) are used for the first time in a Expressway tunnel while ensuring independence. Due to the high-bearing double-supporting construction (double-supporting construction using high-strength material) that was adopted, collapse was prevented by constructing the tunnel cross section early. In addition, the shape of the invert (structure at the bottom of the tunnel) was made as close to a circle as possible to stabilize the entire tunnel structure.

The construction of the tunnel group between Yubari and Shimukappu which was constructed by making full use of these latest technologies, received the "JSCE Technology Award" in May this year.

2. Between Mori IC and Ochibe IC
(1) Outline of open section

The section to be opened this time will be parallel to general national highway No. 5 and pass through the position along the eruption bay.

The site has been acquired since 1999, and construction has been started since 2000 to promote the business. This time, the site will be opened approximately one year earlier than planned, as the land acquisition proceeded earlier than planned.

In the construction, the road was constructed mainly by cutting earthworks, including three tunnels and 13 bridges, such as the preservation of the Washinoki site, a nationally designated historic site, in a tunnel structure.

(2) Cultural Property Conservation "Washinoki Ruins Tunnel"
The Washinoki site was discovered during construction of the section in 2002, and was excavated about 4,000 years ago (late Jomon period), and a ring of stones made up of about 600 stones was found in Hokkaido. It was the largest archeological site in the world and was extremely well preserved, and it was also a very valuable archeological site with an unusual remains called the Tateanaboiki area beside the ring of stones.

For this reason, we held discussions with the Hokkaido and Morimachi Board of Education for the preservation of the ruins, and changed the cut structure by the excavation method to a tunnel structure that pierces the site directly under the propulsion method in order to preserve the ruins.

In the construction, in order to minimize the effect on the precious cultural heritage, the ground displacement was constantly observed and the work proceeded with appropriate site management, and the final ground displacement was kept within 1 cm. I was able to avoid the impact.

In addition, the Washinoki Archaeological Tunnel completed using the latest technology won the "JSCE Hokkaido Section Technology Award" in May this year.

3. Environmental conservation efforts

In this opening section, we passed through a region rich in nature, so we worked on various environmental conservation.

(1) Measures to prevent invasion of animals
To prevent the entry of large animals such as deer, the height of the fence is set to 2.5 m, and to prevent the entry of small animals such as foxes, the gap under the fence is closed with a wire mesh.
Even if a large animal such as a deer invades the Expressway, we have set up a “deer drive-out facility” to quickly get out of the road.

In addition, a fence (pole) has been installed between the Mori IC and the Ochibe IC to prevent birds (raptors) from colliding with moving vehicles.

(2) Conservation measures for living creatures living in waterfront spaces (maintenance of biotopes)
Between the Yubari IC and the Shimukappu IC, in order to preserve the “Heike firefly” that inhabits existing rivers, we restored and preserved the river environment that would be lost or reduced due to the construction of a Expressway. In this case, along with the replacement and renovation of the river, we set up a pool, a pool, and natural trees to restore the habitat and growth environment of aquatic life and plants.

(3) Efforts to reduce power consumption
To improve the "eco interchange," we have adopted LED lighting that consumes less power, such as indoor lighting at toll gates, road signs, and self-luminous snow poles.

In addition, the first LED-type tunnel lighting in Hokkaido has been adopted for the Washinoki Ruins Tunnel.

(4) Development of "eco area"
Doto Expressway Yubari IC-Shimukappu The opening of two rest facilities, Yuni PA and Shimukappu PA, will coincide with the opening of the IC. This will further improve the convenience for customers who drive long distances.

For these two PAs, we are proactively developing the "eco area" by using LED-type lighting with low power consumption for the interior lighting of the toilet and street lights in front of the building.

In addition, Yuni PA is working on the prevention of global warming, including the trial adoption of the first “solar power generation system” on the Hokkaido Expressway.

Maintenance effect

■ Doto Expressway
-Connecting the central and eastern regions, you will feel more secure and comfortable, and travel times will be further shortened! ~
With the opening of the Doto Expressway, it is possible to travel between the central and eastern regions of Hokkaido, avoiding the Nissho Pass, an altitude of 1,022m, which is a mountain route rich in natural environment.

Doto Expressway has a 400m lower elevation than the Nissho Pass on National Highway 274, and the horizontal and vertical alignment of the road has been significantly improved, reducing the number of traffic accidents and causing visibility problems due to fog. It also reduces the risk of traffic accidents in winter and secures safe, secure and comfortable access.

In addition, the travel time from Sapporo City to Obihiro City is shortened by about 80 minutes compared to using general roads (Nissho Toge Route), which improves the efficiency of logistics and Large It is expected that the cooperation between regions will be strengthened.

The choice of the emergency transport of - regional Large-
Emergency transportation from Shimukappu village when the Doto Expressway was not maintained was mainly to Furano and Asahikawa, but with the opening of the Doto Expressway, Obihiro City, where there is a higher emergency medical institution, and We will contribute to the "safety and security" of everyone in the region by further Large the options for transportation destinations to Sapporo City.

-The Eastern Hokkaido area becomes more familiar-
With the opening of the Doto Expressway, travel time between regions will be greatly reduced. As a result, it will be easier to move to tourist destinations, which are the core industry of Hokkaido, and new demand for tourism is expected to increase, such as "wide-area excursion tourism" that adds tourist spots such as Shiretoko and Kushiro.

■ Do-O Expressway
～ Further improvement of convenience in the central and southern areas of Hokkaido and strengthening of redundancy function in case of disaster ～
With the extension of Do-O Expressway, the convenience of the central and southern Hokkaido areas has been improved, punctuality and safety have been secured, and the total travel time from Sapporo to Hakodate is approximately 80 minutes compared to using general roads. It will be shortened, and it is expected that Large in the tourism area and regional activation and exchange will be promoted.

In addition, general national highway No. 5 has been closed due to the effects of heavy rain and tsunami, and a large detour may have been required. With the establishment of the Expressway network including the opening of this time, redundancy in the event of a disaster is secured, and it is expected that the functions of logistics and emergency transportation routes will be enhanced by improving punctuality and safety.

-Improved speed of emergency transportation in Southern Hokkaido-
Due to the extension of the Do-O Expressway the emergency transportation time from Yakumo to Hakodate City (Municipal Hakodate Hospital), where the higher-order emergency medical institutions are located, will be shortened, which will contribute to the safety and security of everyone in the area.

～Smooth movement to tourist spots～
Due to the opening of Do-O Expressway, the travel time has been greatly shortened, and travel to sightseeing spots has become smoother, and there are Mt. Hakodate and Yunokawa Onsen, which are famous for their "1 million dollar night view." It is expected that new tourism demand will increase, such as the southern part of the region, Lake Toya, which is famous for hot springs, and "wide-area sightseeing tours" including Noboribetsu.

Reference: Price list from major ICs
●Toll charges for the section that will be opened this time (Yubari to Shimukappu)

●Toll charges from Otofuke Obihiro IC to major ICs

●Toll charges for the section that will be opened this time (Mori-Ochibe)

●Toll charges from Mori IC to major ICs