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NEXCO EAST Hokkaido Regional Head Office (Atsubetsu-ku, Sapporo City) From 2024 to Wednesday, April 30, 2025 of" Snow and Ice Seppyou We are positioning this as a "countermeasures period" and will work around the clock to monitor weather and road conditions and take measures against snow and ice in order to ensure safe transportation.
Ahead of the start of the snow and ice countermeasures period, we are praying for safe traffic on Expressway in winter and for the successful completion of snow and ice countermeasures work. The Snow and Ice Countermeasures Departure Ceremony (Safety Prayer Ceremony) will be held at five management offices across Hokkaido as follows (open to the press).
We ask that our customers please put on winter tires and other winter equipment early, and also understand and cooperate with work to combat snow and ice.

1. 1. Date and time of the snow and ice countermeasures departure ceremony (safety prayer festival)

• In case of rain, it will be done in the garage.

• If you would like to be interviewed, please contact each management office by the day before the interview date.
  On the day of the event, please come to the reception desk at the venue's management office at least 10 minutes before the start time.

2. Traffic accident and snowfall

On Hokkaido's Expressway, the number of traffic accidents caused by steering and braking errors is about four times higher in winter than in summer. Snow usually starts falling in early October, so please drive safely by slowing down and driving carefully, depending on the weather and road conditions, and by putting on winter tires and other winter gear early. When changing to winter tires, be sure to check that the nuts are not loose and check the air pressure of the replaced tires to prevent accidents involving wheels slipping off or tire bursts. The official NEXCO EAST YouTube channel (E-NEXCO driveplaza) also provides videos that teach you safe driving tips and how to respond in an emergency.
The average cumulative snowfall at each observation point on Hokkaido's Expressway last season (October 2023 to 2024) was approximately 423.0 cm. The point with the heaviest observed snowfall was the Tokiwa Tunnel on Do-O Expressway, with a cumulative snowfall of 826.1 cm. (Details: Appendix 1 [PDF: 437 KB])

3. 3. Request for snow removal work

1. Thank you for your cooperation in running the snowplow at low speed.

   Snow removal work will be carried out at a speed of 50km/h or less, with vehicle formations changed according to road conditions and weather. During snow removal work, overtaking snow removal vehicles is prohibited, so please slow down and keep a sufficient distance between your vehicle and the snow removal vehicle. For snow removal methods unique to Expressway, please see Appendix 2 [PDF: 460KB].

   

2. Please be careful when passing antifreeze spraying vehicles.

   If roads are predicted to freeze, antifreeze will be applied in advance.
   Please be careful when passing a work vehicle that is spraying as there is a risk that the anti-freeze may get sprayed on the vehicle.

   

3. Work may be carried out even on sunny days.
   Depending on road conditions, work such as snow removal, spraying deicing agent, and clearing snow from the shoulders of the road may be carried out.
   In addition, roads may be closed if they are deemed dangerous.
   We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Four. We are distributing winter Expressway information on our official LINE account and Official X (formerly Twitter).