Site Visit@Hakodate
We accompanied the Committee on Infrastructure Planning and Management and participated in a site visit to observe transportation infrastructure in Hakodate.
The tour began with an explanation of the Hokkaido Shinkansen at the Japan Railway Construction, Transport, and Technology Agency (JRTT) Southern Hokkaido Office, followed by a visit to one of the construction sites.
Approximately 80% of the tunnel construction between Sapporo and Hakodate has been completed.
However, as reported recently, the project has been delayed due to the underground situation, which has forced engineers to carry out ground improvements and change construction methods.
Next, we visited the Nishi-Onuma section of the Onuma Tunnel in Nanae Town, where we observed the construction of the longest road tunnel in Hokkaido. Getting up close to the tunnel’s excavation face was a rare opportunity. I was particularly impressed by aspects not usually covered in class, such as the on-site facilities for producing concrete to ensure smooth progress and various efforts to reduce environmental impacts.
On the day of the visit, we toured the site in snowy conditions. Observing the work in such severe weather and seeing how closely the construction site was located to residential areas gave me an insight into the unique challenges of construction in heavy snowfall regions and the potential impact that construction delays can have on local development and daily life.
I look forward to seeing how the completion of both the Hokkaido Shinkansen and the expressway projects will connect Central and Southern Hokkaido and bring about changes in the region.
[Uemachi]
