Efforts for Recovery of Roads
from the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake
May 31, 2017
Kazuhide KIYASU
Research Coordinator for Construction Management
Research Center for Infrastructure Management
National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

NILIM SUPPORT FOR DISASTER RESPONSE○ The National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management is the only national researchorganization in the housing and public capital field.
○ “Disaster response support” is one of the major roles of NILIM.
○ NILIM have sent experts to many areas affected by disasters including the Great East JapanEarthquake, to support restoration, in cooperation with the Public Works Research Institute.
2016 Itoigawa City large-scale fire2016 Typhoon disaster2011 The Great East Japan Earthquake2014 Hiroshima landslide disaster2015 Kanto · Tohoku heavy rain

2016 Kumamoto earthquake2014 Mt. Ontake eruption
2012 North Kyushu heavy rain

1

Overview◆Overview of the Kumamoto Earthquakes
and the damage◆Disaster response by MLIT
◆The efforts to restore roads2

Occurrence of the Kumamoto Earthquake○ From April 14 to 16, 2016, a series of earthquakes ranging from M6.5 to M7.3 struck theKumamoto Area.
○ Main shock○ Foreshock
Date/time: 21:26 on April 14

Date/time: 01:25 on April 16

Epicenter: Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture

Epicenter: Kumamoto region of Kumamoto Prefecture(North 32°44’ and East 130°48’)(North 32°45’ and East 130°45’)

Epicenter depth: 11km

Epicenter depth: 12km

Scale of earthquake: Magnitude 6.5

Scale of earthquake: Magnitude 7.3

21:26 on April 14
M6.5

01:25 on April 16
M7.3

Sources)

Japan Meteorological Agency

3

Damage caused by the Kumamoto Earthquake○ 50 deaths were caused directly by building collapse and sediment disasters. About 200,000
buildings were damaged.
○ Roads, railways, water supply and sewage systems, electric power and other public services
were severely damaged.

4

Setting up of Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters○ Immediately after the earthquake on April 14, the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau set
up the disaster countermeasure headquarters.
○ At 23:00 on the same day, it held a TV conference with MLIT and shared information with theMinister.

5

Sending liaisons and TEC-FORCE○ On April 14, at the same time as the Kyushu Bureau set up the Disaster Countermeasure
Headquarters, liaisons were sent to Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto City, Mashiki Town,etc. The liaisons collected information, supported the disaster area.
○ The first 14-member TEC-FORCE was sent to Mashiki Town at 1:25 on April 15.

6

Sending equipment and materials○ On April 15, Disaster countermeasure vehicles such as lighting vehicles and information
gathering vehicles were deployed to support various activities.

7

Surveying by a helicopter (April 15)○ On the Morning of April 15, The Kyushu Bureau started to survey the damage using their ownhelicopter.

8

Surveying by a helicopter (April 16)○ On the day of the main shock, the Kyushu Bureau started to survey the damage and theopening of roads using the helicopter.
菊池・合志←橋台手前に亀裂

R57号赤水↑亀裂を避けて通行する様子

9Assisting evacuees○ On April 15, drinking water, emergency food, blankets, etc. which had been held by theKyushu Bureau were provided as emergency supplies to local governments in the disasterarea.

10

Activities of TEC-FORCE○ In addition to TEC-FORCE of the Kyushu Bureau, up to about 440 TEC-FORCE members
gathered from all over Japan.
○ TEC-FORCE conducted surveys on the damage situation etc. of infrastructure facilities.

山鹿市

菊池市

産山村
阿蘇市

合志市 大津町

熊本市

菊陽町
西原村
益城町

嘉島町
宇土市

御船町

南阿蘇村

山都町

甲佐町

宇城市

八代市

橋梁点検Sources) Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

11

TEC-FORCE(Road-opening team)○ The TEC-FORCE road-opening team surveyed the state of damage to national roads,
prefectural roads, etc.
○ They also helped with early restoration, such as road opening work in response to requests.
【 National Route 443 opened on April 20】【Prefectural Route 149 opened on April 17】▲ Road opening work

▲ 道路啓開作業（国道443号）▲ Surveying state of damage▲ Surveying state of damage▲ Road opening work

▲ Damage on April 16▲ Restored in 5 days

12

Technological Support by NILIM and PWRI
〇 Immediately after the earthquake, NILIM also set up a Disaster Countermeasure
Headquarters and sent experts to Kumamoto as TEC-FORCE.
〇 TEC-FORCE of NILIM and PWRI gave advanced technological support with damage surveys
and emergency restoration.

NILIM Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters meetingExplaining the results of an emergency inspection
to a self-governing body

Surveying state ofdamage on the scene

13Damage on Expressways○ Up to 507km of expressways in Kyushu were closed under the effects of the earthquake.
○ On the Kyushu Expressway and Oita Expressway, bridges and slope faces were seriously
damaged.

② Oita Expressway (impassable)②① Kyushu Expressway (impassable)①

Photo: NEXCO West Japan

14

Restoration of Expressways○ NEXCO West Japan performed emergency restoration, and opened all expressways by May
9,2016.
○ In part of the Kyushu Crossing Expressway in Kumamoto district, traffic was opened in 2 lanesout of 4, but all 4 lanes were completely restored and opened on April 28, 2017.

Immediately after earthquake

During restoration work

Present time
Photo: NEXCO West Japan

15

Damage to Trunk Roads around the Aso area
○ Between Kumamoto urban area and Aso area, roads were seriously damaged.
○ National Route 57 and 325, Prefectural Route 28 were cut off traffic on these routes.
○ These disasters had a major impact on inter-city traffic.

57To OitaAso area
57

Kumamoto Urban area

熊本空港（主）熊本高森線（県道２８号）

325

To North Miyazaki

National Route 57: Road linking Kumamoto city with Oita city
National Route 325: Road linking Kumamoto with northern Miyazaki Prefecture(Road linking northern and southern Aso area)
Prefectural Route 28: Road linking southern Aso area with Kumamoto citySources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

16Ensuring detours○TEC-FORCE helped open the Prefectural Milk Road and the Green Road on April 22 in 2016.
○By these, detours on National Route 57 and Prefectural Route 28 were secured.
To Oita

Milk Road
Bypass the Route 57

DetourTo Kumamoto
CityOpened on April 22ToKumamotoCityDetour

opened by April 22

National Route 57 impassable
Geographical Survey Institute website: prepared from a stereographPrefectural Route 28
impassableToTakamoritown

Green Road
Bypass the Route 28

DetourDetourSources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau17

Cut Off National Route 57 and 325○ A land slide occurred in the area where National Route 57 and 325 meet. This cut off National
Route 57 and the Hohi Line of the railway those link Kumamoto city with Oita.
国道57号○Also the Aso bridge on National Route 325 collapsed.
② View of the river course

Height of 700m

黒川
国道325号

Width of 200m

To Kumamoto CityHohi Line of the railway

National Route 57

To Oita②Fallen Aso Bridge

黒 川
National Route 325
To NorthMiyazaki18

Sediment disaster prevention in the Aso bridge area
〇 To prevent the collapse of unstable soil from causing secondary disasters, the Kyushu Bureauareabegan sediment disaster prevention works in May 2016.
〇 To ensure the safety of this work, it was done using construction machinery that can be remotelycontrolled.
〇 Manned execution began in January 2017.

Removal of unstablesoil

Embankment to capture fallingrocks

Photo : Kumagai Gumi Co., Ltd.
Remote operating▲Sediment control workin the Aso bridge Area

Remotely operated heavy construction
machinerySources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

19New bypass of National Route 57○ To restore the functions of National Route 57 that was cut off in the Aso Bridge area, theJapanese government decided to construct a new bypass on the north side of the existing road.
○ The Kyushu Bureau is executing the work with opening the bypass in 2021 as its goal.

New bypass of National Route 57①②To Oita

23

New Tunnel (4km)③1

Existing National Route 57
impassableTo KumamotoCitySources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

20

Improvement of the Milk Road
○ The Kyushu Bureau, in cooperation with Kumamoto Prefecture, improved the Prefectural Milk
Road by December 2016, so it could serve as the detour around National Route 57.
Improvement ofthe Milk Road

Prefectural Milk Road

To Oita

Monitor camera

Delineator

Improvement intersection

National Route 57
impassable
Refuge space

To Kumamoto
CityTo North
MiyazakiSources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

21

Restoration of the Aso bridge on the Route 325○ Restoration of the Aso bridge on the Route 325 required advanced technology, so theJapanese government decided to implement the disaster restoration project as a direct project.
To Oita

Fallen Aso Bridge

To Kumamoto
CityTo NorthMiyazaki
Image of New Aso BridgeSources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

22Replacement work of the Aso bridge○ The Kyushu Bureau is undertaking the work with the aim of replacing the bridge by 2021.

③

①

③

②

To Kumamotocity②①
To NorthMiyazakiSources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

23Damage to a Village Road near the Aso Bridge〇 A Minamiaso village road near the Aso Bridge was also became impassable due to disasters.
○ Following the request of the village mayor, the Japanese government decided to restore it
directly on behalf of the village under the Large Disaster Restoration Law.
Fallen section of bridge

Bridge abutment settled①To Kumamotocity②①②

Minamiaso village roadSources)

To NorthMiyazaki

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

24Restoration work of the Village Road
○ The Kyushu Bureau is undertaking restoration work with the aim of restoring the road in thesummer of 2017.
[1] Aso-choyo Bridge (restoration of abutment)[3] Toshita Bridge repair work

ToKumamotocity[2] Aso-choyo Bridge repair work

Minamiaso Village Road
To NorthMiyazakiSources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

25Damage to Prefectural Route 28○ Prefectural Route 28 was impassable because 6 bridges and 2 tunnels were seriously damaged.
○ Following the request by the Kumamoto prefectural governor, the national government decided
to restore it directly on behalf of the prefecture under the Law.
Prefectural Route 28

Tawarayama Tunnel

Kuwatsuru Bridge

Tawarayama Tunnel

To
TakamoritownTo
KumamotoCitySources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

26

Provisionary Opened Prefectural Route 28〇 The Kyushu Bureau repaired the tunnels and improved old roads to detour the bridges,
provisionally opened it on December 24, 2016.
○ It is continuing executing work to repair the six bridges.
③②
Prefectural Route 28
To TakamoritownToKumamoto
City①New Bypass②detour the bridge③Tawarayama Tunnel①Sources)

Kyushu Regional Development Bureau

27Technological Support by NILIM and PWRI
○ Advanced expertise is required for restoration of these roads and sediment control work, theKyushu Bureau has established technical committees.
○ Experts on sediment control, bridges, etc. from the NILIM and PWRI also join thesecommittees, and survey at the disaster site to give technical advice on restoration methods etc.

Technical Committees□Technical Committee for Restoration in Aso Bridge area
□Technical Committee for Restoration of National Route 325□Technical Support Team for Restoration of Prefectural and Village Roads

Technical Committee forRestoration in Aso Bridge area

Technical Committee forRestoration of National Route 325

Survey at the disaster site28

Opening the Restoration Office and the Recovery Division in Kumamoto○ In July 2016, the Kyushu Bureau opened the Kumamoto Earthquake Disaster Countermeasure
Promotion Office. Six experts from NILIM also participated as the Promotion Office members.
○ In April 2017, the Kyushu Bureau opened the Kumamoto Reconstruction Project Office inMimani-Aso Village in Kumamoto Prefecture. NILIM also opened the Kumamoto Earthquake
Recovery Division in the same building as the Project Office.
○ The two organizations will work together to promote the restoration and recovery from theKumamoto Earthquake.
KyushuBureau

NILIM

Kumamoto
Reconstruction
Project Office

Kumamoto
Earthquake
Recovery
Division

Opening ceremony (April 24, 2017)
restorationandrecovery

Name plate

Project Office & Division29