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In NEXCO EAST (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and Chief Executive Officer: Toru Kohata), where about 60% of the Expressway in the area pass through snowy and cold regions, snow removal is started to ensure safety and security of the Expressway even in winter. We will carry out the snow and ice countermeasure work 24 hours a day. Starting with the Hokkaido Regional Head Office on October 16th, each Regional Head Office in the East Japan region has established a snow and ice countermeasure system, and since October 17th it has already been carrying out freeze prevention work and snow removal work in Hokkaido and other areas.

Customers are requested to prepare for snowy roads such as wearing winter tires, make a drive plan based on weather information and road information before going out, and keep safe driving on snowy roads. Also, during the winter season, we ask for your understanding and cooperation in carrying the chain in order to prepare for sudden heavy snowfall.

Main efforts this winter

1 We will provide information such as the expected impact on the Expressway from 3 days before heavy snowfall

When heavy snowfall such as "heavy snow special warning" or "urgent announcement of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism against heavy snowfall" is expected, We will provide you with information about Expressway closures due to heavy snow from about 3 days in advance, so please refrain from going unnecessarily and urgently. Please consider a safe drive plan that is reasonably safe, such as by making a wide-area detour to an area that is less affected by snow.

• This winter, in collaboration with Weathernews Co., Ltd., a weather information company, we will collaborate with other Expressway companies to deliver the above "new information provision" to more customers. New information provision site " Prediction of Expressway impact of snow Will be provided.

We will provide new information that will be useful for considering a drive plan in case of heavy snow.

Expressway company will jointly launch a new "Expressway information site" in collaboration with Weathernews Co., Ltd.

If there is a heavy snowfall, please check the information provision site and ask for your cooperation such as suspending travel to the heavy snowfall area and detouring over a wide area.

Heavy snowfall: Snow that causes "heavy snow special warnings" and "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism emergency announcement for heavy snowfall"

2 We will work to reduce the number of road closures

(1) Strengthen snow removal capacity

(2) Strive to minimize road closures due to stuck (impossible to climb) vehicles

In order to minimize traffic blockage due to vehicle stuck on snowy roads, we newly added surveillance cameras to areas with a risk of getting stuck, such as sections with severe vertical gradients or sections where past stalls occurred, and quickly find stuck vehicles. At the same time, by deploying 19 new towing vehicles (191 → 210), we will quickly eliminate stuck vehicles and strive to minimize road closures.

(3) Please wear winter tires and tire chains

[1] About installing winter tires

[2] "Chain regulation" [New]

* FY2018 "Chain regulation" (NEXCO EAST jurisdiction) adjustment points
<< Currently, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is coordinating with the following points >>

(4) Strive to reduce traffic closures due to visibility problems caused by snowstorms
In response to visibility obstacles caused by snowstorms and ground blizzards that occur mainly in northern Japan, snow fences will be renewed and improved, snow fences will be managed to control snowstorms, etc. We will try to reduce it.

(5) Strengthen cooperation with related organizations and strive to secure local traffic
During heavy snowfall, the "Information Communication Headquarters" consisting of road managers, police, meteorological stations, user groups, etc. centralizes information and "minimizes the impact on road network functions" including general roads. We will set a goal and respond based on the "timeline" formulated with related organizations.

3 Requests to Customers

• NEXCO EAST, 60% of the roads in the jurisdiction are in "snowy and cold regions", so we have dispatched snow plows around the area even during heavy snow to ensure our customers' traffic. We have been working around the clock, such as removing snow.
  However, in the case of heavy snow like a disaster, it may be difficult to secure traffic only by removing snow.
  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
• Please refrain from going out unnecessarily during heavy snowfall
  If heavy snowfall such as "Heavy snow special warning" or "MHLW emergency announcement against heavy snowfall" is expected, please refrain from going out unnecessarily and urgently. When you go out, please consider a safe drive plan that is reasonably safe, such as by making a wide-area detour to an area less affected by snow.
• Request to wear winter tires and carry tire chains
  Wear winter tires or tire chains when driving on snowy or frozen Expressway. If you are traveling in the "chain regulation" section, please install the chain at a rest facility in front of you. During the winter season, we ask for your understanding and cooperation in carrying the chain in order to prepare for sudden heavy snowfall.