Notice

March 18th, 2011 (2:00 pm) Tohoku Regional Bureau Seismic Damage Information

Operation COMB Completed Today

1. 15 East-West Routes Out of 16 Routes Are Open to Traffic • 15 national routes out of 16 that connect between the National Route 4 and National Routes 6 and 45 are open to traffic.

2. National Route 45 Is 97% Open to Traffic (Sendai City ~ Aomori Prefectural Border) • The national route 45 (Sendai City ~ Aomori prefectural border) is now 97% open to general traffic (481km out of 464km). • 233km between Oofunato City and Aomori prefectural border is capable to handle through traffic including the Sanriku route.

3. We Are Transitioning to Emergency Rehabilitation Operation from Opening Routes to Traffic by Removing Obstacles Opening Roads and Rehabilitation in the Sanriku Coastal Area

The most urgent issue for rehabilitation of the affected areas: Opening the emergency transportation network (Comb shape) to traffic.

■Decided to place a “comb” shaped emergency route to open traffic to the more affected areas from the tsunami. (March 11th)

First step: Secured the national route 4 (Tohoku network) that runs north and south.

Second step: Secured the national routes that horizontally (east-west) runs from the national route 4 to Sanriku. →March 12nd: Secured 11 east-west routes →March 14th: Secured 14 east-west routes →March 15th: Secured 15 east-west routes (Open the routes to general traffic from 16th.)

Third step: Opening the national route 45 (removing obstacles) is successful and almost complete, and it is 97% open to traffic. We are transitioning to the emergency rehabilitation operation.

< First Step > < Second Step > < Third Step > kuji City

Miyako City

Kamaishi City National Route 45 (Tohoku network) (Tohoku network) National Route4 Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean National Route4 (Tohoku network) National Route4

Ofunato City

Rikuzentakata City

Kesennuma City

Minamisanriku Town

Ishinomaki City Closed Roads due to the Tohoku Earthquake: Friday, March 18th, 2011 (5pm)

Status of Various routes from the National Route 4 to the National Routes 45 and 6.

•National Route 45 is primarily open for emergency vehicles A : Port of Aomori for the search and rescue activities. •Many of the wave barriers are left on roads. Damages on roads are still being corrected. B : Port of Hachinohe Many of the traffic signals do not operate. Many of the roads might be open only with one Hachinohe City lane for traffic. ① C : Port of Kuji Karumai Town ② Legend Kuji City ③ Open to traffic Iwate Town ④ Iwaizumi Town No traffic in downtown D : Port of Miyako Morioka City ⑤ No traffic Miyako City E : Port of Kamaishi Open port Hanamaki City ⑥ Kamaishi City Kitakami City Port availability being ⑦ Ofunato City confirmed ⑧ F : Port of Ofunato Ichinoseki City Evacuation from the ⑨ Rikuzentakata City nuclear plant (30km) ⑩ Kesennuma City Kurihara City Minamisanriku Town Osaki city ⑪ G : Port of Ishinomaki TOHOKU EXPRESSWAY Taiwa Interchange Ishinomaki City TOHOKU EXPRESSWAY Sendaiminami Interchange H : Port of Sendai-Shiogama(Shiogama District)

H : Port of Sendai-Shiogama(Sendai District) ⑫ Fukushima City Soma City ⑬ Nihonmatsu City I : Port of Soma

Koriyama City 288 Namie Town Futaba Town ⑭ Shirakawa City Iwaki City 289 J : Port of Onahama ⑮ Iwaki City