NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office (Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Regional Head Office president: Mikio Kashima) Congestion prediction due to traffic concentration in the Tohoku region during the Obon season [14th August, 2008 (Thursday) to 20th August, Wednesday] Is summarized.

Please use this forecast as a reference when planning a trip with plenty of space, such as avoiding times when peak traffic congestion is expected.

1 Congestion prediction

The Tohoku region's Expressway are congested every year due to the concentration of customers who spend their Obon in their hometown.

Due to the concentration of customer trends in the second half of the year, the number of traffic jams on the Out-bound line that usually peaks in the first half decreases and the number of traffic jams on the In-bound line that peaks in the second half. From the increasing trend, Congestion of 10 km or more occurred 21 times on the Tohoku Expressway (5 Out-bound lines, 16 In-bound lines) It is expected to do.

Especially in Fukushima and Miyagi prefecture, it is predicted that there will be 30km of traffic on the Out-bound line on Wednesday, 13th August, and 40km on the In-bound line for 3 days from Friday, August 15th to Sunday, August 17th. I will.

• Locations where traffic congestion of 10 km or more is predicted [PDF: 23KB]
• 2008 Bon Festival Time Congestion Prediction Location (Map version) [PDF: 31KB]

[Results from last year (reference)]

During the Bon Festival last year [August 8 (Wednesday) to August 21 (Tuesday) 14 days], traffic congestion of more than 10 km was 14 times on the Tohoku Expressway (9 times Out-bound line, 5 times In-bound line) Has occurred. Of these, four were caused by traffic accidents.

[Congestion prediction method (reference)]

Congestion prediction excludes congestion caused by unusual events such as accidents and traffic closures based on past traffic congestion (years with similar or similar day arrangements) and changes in traffic volume, and determines event dates. In consideration of this, we predict the time and place of traffic congestion. In addition, we do not consider unforeseen events such as accidents and road closures.

2 Cooperation and Requests to Customers

Expressway main congestion, the In-bound speed is reduced to one not notice at the point that reaches the slope, following the vehicle is generated by stepping on one after another brake. We are trying to relieve traffic congestion by displaying a "Caution for slowdown" in such places. Also, in areas where there is a lot of traffic congestion, a warning “Collision warning” is displayed to alert you by means of an electronic display board, etc., so please confirm the displayed content and cooperate with traffic congestion mitigation and safe driving. please.

Also, if you notice a traffic jam ahead, please turn on the hazard lamp and cooperate with the prevention of a rear-end collision accident by signaling to the following vehicle.

3 Traffic jam information

NEXCO EAST /Central Japan/West Japan, we created a nationwide leaflet “Traffic Forecast Guide” that displays traffic congestion forecasts in an easy-to-understand manner. It will be distributed at the information corner of SA and each management office of NEXCO EAST.

We also provide information on our Expressway information site "DraPla", so please use it when planning your trip.

• Leaflet
  "Traffic Forecast Guide" (Distributed in service areas such as NEXCO EAST)
• computer
  "Traffic forecast calendar" (http://calendar.driveplaza.com/)
  • You can also access it from the Expressway information site "DraPla" (http://www.driveplaza.com/).
• Mobile phone (i-mode, Yahoo! Keitai, Ezweb)
  "Traffic forecast calendar" (http://calendar.driveplaza.com/mobile/)
  • You can also access it from the Expressway information site "DraPla Mobile" (http://m.driveplaza.com/).
• NEXCO東日本お客さまセンター
  0570-024-024　（PHS・IP電話　03-5338-7524）
  • Operators are available 24/7.

Road conditions may change due to accidents and weather, so please check the Japan Road Traffic Information Center, Highway Telephone, Highway Fax, etc. for road traffic information on the day of use.