[E18] Approximately 80% of Joshin-Etsu Expressway (between Shinanomachi IC and Joetsu JCT)
There will be 4 lanes on Friday, December 7th.

-Arai PA / Smart IC to Joetsu JCT are all 4 lanes-

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  • [E18] About 80% of the Joshin-Etsu Expressway (between Shinanomachi IC and Joetsu JCT) will have four lanes on Friday, December 7

November 27, 2018
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Niigata Regional Head Office

NEXCO EAST Niigata Regional Head Office (Chuo-ku, Niigata City) E18 Regarding the four-lane conversion work that was carried out between the Shinanomachi IC on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway and the Joetsu JCT (37.5 km), a new 4 lane operation for 15.9 km started around 3:00 pm on Friday, December 7 I will. With the start of this operation, about 80% (28.7 km) of this section will be 4 lanes, including the extension of 12.8 km already installed with additional lanes.

The start date and time for 4-lane operation may change depending on the weather.

The remaining 20% (8.8 km) will be completed within 2019 (FY2019), and Joshin-Etsu Expressway will be converted into four lanes when the same section is completed.

We will continue to proceed with the construction while paying close attention to safety measures, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

Location map

Image of position map

Schematic of 4-lane operation start section

Joshin-Etsu Expressway From the Shinanomachi IC to Joetsu JCT (37.5km) 4-lane construction section, 4-lane operation will start in the following sections around 3:00 pm on Friday, December 7th.

  • Between Shinanomachi IC and Myoko Kogen IC (3.2km out of 5.1km) *Some sections have been expanded to 4 lanes
  • Between Myoko Kogen IC and Nakago IC (9.5km out of 12.0km) *Some sections have been expanded to 4 lanes
  • Between Nakago IC and Arai PA/SIC (3.0km out of 7.4km) *Some sections will be expanded to 4 lanes
  • Arai PA/SIC - Joetsu Takada IC (7.1km) *Completely converted to 4 lanes
  • Between Joetsutakada IC and Joetsu JCT (5.9km) * Full 4 lanes

As a result, approximately 80% (28.7km) of the length (37.5km) between Shinanomachi IC and Joetsu JCT will be four lanes. With the start of 4-lane operation, the entire stretch between Arai PA/Smart IC and Joetsu JCT (13.0 km) will be 4 lanes. Please note that the start date and time of 4-lane operation may change depending on weather and other factors.

The remaining 20% (8.8km) will be completed within 2019 (2019).

Passengers are requested to continue to cooperate with safe driving in accordance with local traffic regulations.

Image image of schematic diagram of 4-lane operation start section

Overview of Joshin-Etsu Expressway 4-lane project section

  • Road name: E18 Joshin-Etsu Expressway
  • 4 lanes: Shinanomachi IC (Oaza Nojiri, Shinanomachi, Kamizuuchi District, Nagano Prefecture)
    Project area - Joetsu JCT (Nakayashiki, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)
  • Section length: 37.5km (4-lane construction length: 24.7km)
  • The E18 Joshin-Etsu Expressway is Expressway with a length of approximately 203 km that connects from the E17 Kan-Etsu Expressway Fujioka JCT through southern Gunma Prefecture, northern Nagano Prefecture, and western Niigata Prefecture to the E8 Hokuriku Expressway at Joetsu JCT.
  • Of this, only 37.5km between Shinanomachi IC and Joetsu JCT is a provisional 2-lane section, and NEXCO EAST Niigata Regional Head Office (Chuo-ku, Niigata City) is working on 4-lane construction for this section.
  • This section passes through one of Japan's leading heavy snowfall areas, and it has a steep slope where the elevation rises from 40m on the Sea of Japan side (near Joetsu JCT) to 680m on the Nagano side (near Shinanomachi IC). It has become.
An image of the outline of Joshin-Etsu Expressway four-lane project section

Effects of expanding Joshin-Etsu Expressway to four lanes ◆Reduction in serious accidents

  • Since Joshin-Etsu Expressway was fully opened in 1999, there have been 70 accidents in which a vehicle broke through the temporary median strip (rubber poles, etc.) in a provisional two-lane section and ran into the opposite lane, of which 13 resulted in fatalities. It is occurring. (As of the end of September 2018)
    By increasing the number of lanes to four, protective fences will be installed in the median strip, which will reduce the number of such serious accidents.
Image image of comparison between the provisional 2-lane section and the completed 4-lane section of the Joshin-Etsu Expressway
By installing a guard fence in the median strip, the number of serious accidents that jump into the opposite lane is reduced. Image image of

Effects of expanding Joshin-Etsu Expressway to four lanes ◆ Alleviation of traffic congestion

  • Congestion due to traffic concentration that has occurred in places where the slope of the road changes, lanes decrease, etc. will be reduced by changing to 4 lanes (increasing lanes).
Image of traffic congestion mechanism in a continuous section of tunnel
Image of traffic congestion in continuous section of tunnel

Effects of increasing Joshin-Etsu Expressway to four lanes ◆Ensuring smooth traffic

  • The number of road closures can be reduced because it is possible to perform traffic accident restoration work and road maintenance and repair work, which had previously been forced to work with road closures, by lane regulations.
  • Over the past 10 years (FY19-H29), 55 events have occurred where large vehicles cannot climb the hill and block the lane due to snow, etc. This makes it possible to avoid vehicles that cannot climb uphill in such cases.
Image of Joshin-Etsu Expressway 's closed road record (H27-H29)
Image of lane blockage caused by vehicles that cannot climb

Effects of expanding Joshin-Etsu Expressway to four lanes ◆Securing early transportation functions in the event of a disaster

  • Since it is possible to carry out restoration work in parallel while securing a traffic zone, it will be possible to restore the road early and it will be possible to pass emergency vehicles and transport goods quickly.
Image of disaster recovery situation after the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake
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