[E4] Between Hanamaki IC and Morioka Minami IC on the Tohoku Expressway
Implementation of face-to-face traffic regulation all day due to bridge renewal work

The latest regulatory information isDraTraPlease see.

PDF version [PDF: 903KB]

NEXCO EAST Morioka Management Office (Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture) is located between E4 Tohoku Expressway Hanamaki Interchange (IC) and Morioka Minami Interchange. Due to the construction work to replace the aged reinforced concrete floor slab with a new floor slab on the bridge, the section of two lanes each for up and down lines will be reduced to one lane each, and all-day lane restrictions will start from October 11 (Tuesday), and one side will be closed. All-day face-to-face traffic regulation will be implemented from October 17th (Monday).
Since the construction will reduce the number of drivable lanes from 2 to 1, traffic congestion is expected on holidays near the construction site between Hanamaki IC and Morioka Minami IC on the Tohoku Expressway.
We apologize for the inconvenience, but if you are driving in this section, please try to drive even more safely and leave with plenty of time to spare.
Renewal work is necessary for the safe and secure use of Expressway. We will do our best to minimize the inconvenience to our customers, so we ask for your understanding and cooperation.

◆Construction image photograph

1. 1. Traffic regulation section

Tohoku Expressway Hanamaki IC-Morioka Minami IC (upper and lower lines)

2. Traffic regulation period

1. Traffic regulation period
   October 11 (Tue) to November 30 (Wed), 2022 (51 days)

【Usage Guide】
All-day lane regulation implementation date (10 days)
All-day face-to-face traffic regulation implementation date (41 days)

• Saturday, Sunday and public holidays are also regulated all day.
• The traffic regulation period may change depending on the progress of construction.

3. 3. Traffic regulation contents

For the floor slab replacement work, the section of each of the two lanes on the upper and lower lanes will be reduced to one lane each, and will be consolidated on one side to implement two-way traffic restrictions throughout the day. During the first and last few days of the construction period, lane restrictions will be applied to both the upper and lower lanes as a preparatory work for switching lanes.

◆Image of lane regulation and two-way traffic regulation

Four. Construction content

About 44 years have passed since the opening of the Takinagawa Bridge, which is located between Hanamaki IC and Shiwa IC on the Tohoku Expressway. Due to the salt content of the spray, the concrete floor slabs have deteriorated and the reinforcing bars have rusted.
By replacing the existing deteriorated concrete floor slabs with new floor slabs, the expressway will be reborn as a safe and comfortable Expressway.

◆ Construction overview

Five. Request when using

1. Face-to-face traffic will be restricted throughout the construction section for approximately 2.6 km. The road will be reduced from the current 2 lanes to 1 lane, and traffic jams of up to about 5 km are expected, starting with the construction site, so please allow yourself plenty of time to go out.
2. Since the driving lane and shoulders are narrow in the two-way traffic restricted section, please observe the regulated speed when driving, secure the inter-vehicle distance, and be careful about rear-end collisions. In addition, the lanes will change significantly before and after the two-way traffic regulation section, so please follow the local information signs.
3. Vehicles for construction work may enter and leave the area around the construction site, so please be careful when traveling ahead.
4. During the construction period, we will provide traffic congestion information using LED information boards, provide construction regulation information using road information boards and road signs, and call attention to driving safely. Please check this information before driving and drive safely.

◆ Photograph of information provided around the construction site

6. Efforts to minimize inconvenience to customers due to construction work

[Use of precast products to shorten construction period and improve quality]
By adopting precast PC floor slabs, we have shortened the construction period and shortened the regulatory period.

• Precast means to manufacture a product in advance in a factory, etc.

[Advance notice of construction regulations and traffic jam information by construction website, signboard, etc.]
We will inform you in advance of the regulation contents by means of construction websites, signboards, banners, etc., mainly in the Tohoku region.

[Notice image]
* This is a PR material for the renewal work carried out in 2021.

7. How to obtain traffic information

• "DraPla", a site full of useful information on Expressway nationwide
  [Address] https://www.driveplaza.com/
• Expressway traffic information service "Drive Traffic (DraTra)"
  【address】
  Real-time information https://www.drivetraffic.jp/
  Construction regulation information https://www.drivetraffic.jp/construction-regulation
• NEXCO東日本お客さまセンター
  24時間365日オペレーターが応対いたします。
  【電話番号】
  0570-024-024（ナビダイヤル）　または　03-5308-2424
• 日本道路交通情報センター（JARTIC）
  【アドレス】　https://www.jartic.or.jp/
  【電話番号】
  全国共通ダイヤル　050-3369-6666（携帯短縮ダイヤル　#8011）
  ※全国どこからでも最寄りの情報センターに接続します。
  岩手情報　050-3369-6603
  東北地方高速情報　050-3369-6761
• Highway radio
  Highway radio (AM1620kHz)
  The section that is broadcasting is indicated by the sign on Expressway.
• Highway Information Terminal
  Wide-area road traffic information is notified on the monitor screen installed in SA / PA.
• Official Twitter account
  "NEXCO EAST (Tohoku)" (@e_nexco_tohoku) Provides information on Expressway in the Tohoku region.