NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office (Aoba-ku, Sendai city, Regional Head Office president: Mikio Kashima) Congestion prediction due to traffic concentration on Expressway in the Tohoku region during the year-end and New Year period [Saturday, December 26, 2009 to Tuesday, January 5, 2010] Is summarized.

Weekday discounts are applied on Saturday, December 26th and Sunday, December 27th, and holiday discounts (special holiday discounts, etc.) are not applied. Holiday discounts will be applied on January 4th (Mon) and 5th (Tuesday), and weekday discounts will be applied for medium-sized vehicles, large vehicles, and oversized vehicles.

The Expressway the Tohoku region in winter may experience sudden changes in the weather and snow with strong winds. Therefore, be sure to equip yourself with winter equipment, keep a sufficient distance between vehicles, and drive safely.

Also, make use of the traffic congestion prediction information and make a leisurely travel plan, such as avoiding traffic congestion by decentralized use by shifting the days and times of customers' use.

1 Congestion prediction

Tohoku region of year-end and New Year period Expressway, the New Year increase in the traffic volume, etc. customers who spend at home, Tohoku Expressway of In-bound congestion of 10km or more in a line (Tokyo area) is, we are predicted to occur twice. (See Attachment 1 [PDF: 61KB])

Locations where traffic congestion of 10 km or more is predicted (traffic count 2 times for In-bound line, 0 times for Out-bound line)

• "IC" is an interchange, "JCT" is a junction, "SA" is a service area, "PA" is a parking area, and "TN" is a tunnel.
• Leading point of traffic jam ⇒ Red Miyagi prefecture, Huang Fukushima prefecture
  Congestion prediction method
  As an effect of the special holiday discount, the traffic congestion based on the past traffic congestion record and traffic volume changes is added to the traffic congestion based on the past traffic congestion increase results confirmed in Obon, and traffic congestion caused by unusual events such as accidents and traffic closures. Is excluded, and the date and time of traffic congestion and the location of traffic congestion are predicted.

2 Major rest facilities where congestion is expected

During the year-end and New Year holidays, congestion is expected at the 22 rest facilities in the table below. ( See Attachment 2 [PDF: 61KB] )

3 Congestion measures

As for congestion measures during the year-end and New Year holidays under the jurisdiction of the Tohoku Regional Head Office, we plan to continue to implement the following measures based on the traffic congestion forecast and the traffic congestion period after the special holiday discount. (See Attachments 4 and 5 [PDF: 140KB])

[Countermeasures on the Expressway main line]

(1) In-bound speed decrease warning measures 18 places in the hill, etc.
(2) Relieving darkness and oppressiveness by increasing the illumination of tunnel lighting 32 locations
(3) 32 points to alert the rear end of a traffic jam

[Countermeasures at rest facilities (SA/PA)]

(4) Arrangement of parking lot organizers at rest facilities, etc. 597 Total number of people/day
(5) 8 temporary toilets installed
(6) 22 parking spaces for large vehicles

4 Road information information

In order to drive Expressway safely and comfortably, you can easily get the latest Expressway information (snowfall condition, road condition, road condition) etc. on your PC or mobile phone. Please use it before going out.

• computer
  
  • "Congestion Forecast Calendar" ( http://calendar.driveplaza.com/ ) ( Attachment 6 [PDF: 205KB] )
    • You can also access it from the Expressway information site "DraPla" (http://www.driveplaza.com/).
  • "Drive Traffic" ( https://www.drivetraffic.jp/ ) ( Attachment 9 [PDF: 1.4MB] )
    • On the map screen Expressway traffic information (traveling route, snow-covered road of the live camera image, weather prediction) information about the fees and SA · PA you can see.
• mobile phone
  "Congestion Forecast Calendar" (http://calendar.driveplaza.com/mobile/) ( Attachment 6 [PDF: 205KB] )
  • You can also access it from the Expressway information site "DraPla Mobile" (http://m.driveplaza.com/).
  "Drive Traffic" (http://m.drivetraffic.jp/) ( Attachments 7 and 8 [PDF: 1.4MB] )
  • Expressway traffic information (traveling route, snow-covered road of the live camera image, weather prediction) information of the fees and SA · PA You can see.
• 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.
• Other
  At major SAs and PAs in the Tohoku region, "Driving Weather Ch" broadcasts useful information for driving, such as weather forecasts and points to note when driving. (Scheduled to start broadcasting in early December)

5 Request from NEXCO EAST Tohoku Regional Head Office

• On snowy roads, if you continue to drive without winter equipment, not only will you not be able to drive or a traffic accident, but it may also be closed and annoy many customers.
  Please ensure that winter tires, tire chains, and other winter equipment are fully equipped to maintain a sufficient distance between vehicles for safe driving.
• When joining the main line from an interchange or service area, for safety, accelerate sufficiently in the acceleration lane and join the main line.
• In the service area and parking area, please park properly at the designated location.
• Please be careful of slow speeds in the sag and tunnel areas that may cause traffic congestion.

• Please make sure that you have not forgotten to insert the ETC card or that the ETC card is incompletely inserted, and slow down the ETC lane to less than 20 km/h before entering and slow down.

• Most troubles can be prevented by inspecting the vehicle before driving. In addition, as for refueling and toilets, take an appropriate break and drive safely as soon as possible!
• Wear seat belts in all seats including the back seats! (Required from June 1, 2008)
• Enough distance on the Expressway!
  (From October 1, 2009, the penalties for "not maintaining distance between vehicles" have been strengthened.)
• If you see a traffic jam ahead, turn on the hazard lamp and use the signal to the following vehicle to help prevent a rear-end collision!
• If you find an abnormality on the road, use the emergency road dial " #9910 " to immediately evacuate to a safe place and call an emergency phone in case of an accident or breakdown!