Noto Peninsula Quake-Damaged Tunnel in Ishikawa Pref. Reopens After 18 Months; Residents Upbeat About Shortened Travel Time
Nakaya Tunnel measures 1.3-kilometers and is on National Highway Route 249 in the prefecture. The tunnel sustained damage, including the collapse of its concrete inner walls, during the earthquake. Just before the repairs were completed, subsequent heavy rains caused the surrounding slopes to collapse on Sept. 21, once again rendering the tunnel impassable.
Residents, who have been eagerly awaiting its reopening, expressed hope that it would boost recovery efforts.
The tunnel was part of a 5.5-kilometer section that was restored by the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.
The opening of this vital artery — the sole main road connecting the Monzen district of Wajima City to the city center — will shorten travel time by up to 20 minutes compared to the detour route.
'The roads are still damaged, but it will be easier to get to shopping and hospitals,' said a 78-year-old man from the city.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Japan Today
All Tokyo Yamanote line services briefly suspended due to fire caused by power bank in bag
All train services on the Yamanote loop line in central Tokyo were briefly suspended Sunday afternoon after a fire, likely caused by a power bank in a passenger's bag, left that passenger and four others with minor injuries, police said. Police quoted the passenger, a woman in her 30s, as saying that "the battery became hot when charging my smartphone, and (the phone) caught fire in around 30 seconds," burning her bag. The incident disrupted train traffic in the Japanese capital, affecting around 98,000 people, JR East said. The fire broke out around 4:10 p.m. on a train traveling between Shin-Okubo and Shinjuku stations. All services on the busy loop line were suspended but resumed by around 6:10 p.m. In addition to the woman, who suffered a burn on her finger, four others in their 20s to 50s were injured while trying to evacuate the train. Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in power banks, can ignite upon physical impact or due to gradual degradation, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Incidents involving such batteries catching fire tend to increase between June and August, when temperatures are higher, according to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation. The ministry bans travelers from placing mobile batteries in checked baggage on flights. Starting this month, it is also urging passengers to keep power banks within reach during flights, following a series of incidents involving mobile batteries catching fire onboard. © KYODO
The Mainichi
6 days ago
- The Mainichi
Fire in carry-on briefly halts Tokyo loop line, power bank suspected
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- All train services on the Yamanote loop line in central Tokyo were briefly suspended Sunday afternoon after a fire, likely caused by a power bank in a passenger's bag, left that passenger and four others with minor injuries, police said. Police quoted the passenger, a woman in her 30s, as saying that "the battery became hot when charging my smartphone, and (the phone) caught fire in around 30 seconds," burning her bag. The incident disrupted train traffic in the Japanese capital, affecting around 98,000 people, JR East said. The fire broke out around 4:10 p.m. on a train traveling between Shin-Okubo and Shinjuku stations. All services on the busy loop line were suspended but resumed by around 6:10 p.m. In addition to the woman, who suffered a burn on her finger, four others in their 20s to 50s were injured while trying to evacuate the train. Lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in power banks, can ignite upon physical impact or due to gradual degradation, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Incidents involving such batteries catching fire tend to increase between June and August, when temperatures are higher, according to the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation. The ministry bans travelers from placing mobile batteries in checked baggage on flights. Starting this month, it is also urging passengers to keep power banks within reach during flights, following a series of incidents involving mobile batteries catching fire onboard.
Yomiuri Shimbun
18-07-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Noto Peninsula Quake-Damaged Tunnel in Ishikawa Pref. Reopens After 18 Months; Residents Upbeat About Shortened Travel Time
WAJIMA, Ishikawa —A vital quake-damaged road including a tunnel reopened on Thursday after being closed for 18 months following the Noto Peninsula Earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture. Nakaya Tunnel measures 1.3-kilometers and is on National Highway Route 249 in the prefecture. The tunnel sustained damage, including the collapse of its concrete inner walls, during the earthquake. Just before the repairs were completed, subsequent heavy rains caused the surrounding slopes to collapse on Sept. 21, once again rendering the tunnel impassable. Residents, who have been eagerly awaiting its reopening, expressed hope that it would boost recovery efforts. The tunnel was part of a 5.5-kilometer section that was restored by the Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau of the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. The opening of this vital artery — the sole main road connecting the Monzen district of Wajima City to the city center — will shorten travel time by up to 20 minutes compared to the detour route. 'The roads are still damaged, but it will be easier to get to shopping and hospitals,' said a 78-year-old man from the city.
