two months ahead of schedule. With the completion of this last section, the Joban Expressway in its entirety was opened to traffic. (2) In regard to the national highways that are under direct control of MLIT, the full-scale reconstructions were basically completed by the end of 2012. Furthermore, the major disaster areas were reconstructed based on the restoration plan, including the bridges on national road route 45 and other structures. (3) In regard to the reconstruction of roads/support roads, the work on the main structures, such as bridges, has begun in earnest. The work is simultaneously being completed on all areas, including zones that have been newly privatized, and through the application of the Project Promotion Process (PPP), we are able to make use of the private sector’s technological skills. Furthermore, in April 2014, the prospect of the roads being opened to traffic was confirmed for the first time in regard to reconstruction roads and reconstruction support roads that were added to the project after the disaster. There are 5 sections of roads (42km) that are expected to be opened for use within 6 to 7 years after the project’s commencement, which is an unusually quick time frame. This has been confirmed after the opening of approximately 60% of the total area, including sections that were already opened for use.

## (7) Railroads

Of the railways that were damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake, reconstruction works started on the Sanriku Railway, by utilizing the new support system established using the FY2011 third supplementary budget, so that the railways of the South Riasu Line between Kamaishi and Yoshihama Stations and the North Riasu Line between Tanohata and Omoto Stations restarted operation on April 5 and 6, 2014, thereby the entire railways were restored. For the railway line between Tatsuta and Hirono Stations, taking into account the decision for the return date of the residents of Narahamachi, operation was resumed on June 1, 2014, and Ishinomaki Line for the stretch between Urashuku and Onagawa Stations resumed operation as of March 21, 2015, thereby the entire Ishinomaki line was fully restored. As a result, the only railway lines with zones where service is still suspended are five of Japan Railways East Japan lines (JR Yamada Line, Ofunato Line, Kesennuma Line, Senseki Line, Joban Line).

Senseki Line is expected to reopen for operation of the entire line on May 30, 2015, and reconstruction is moving forward on the Joban Line between Hamayoshida and Soma Stations with the goal of resuming operation in the spring of 2017. For the route between Haranomachi and Tatsuta Stations on the Joban Line, the decision was made on March 10 to “resume operation for the entire line in the future”, and as specific steps to achieve this goal, the timing of resuming operation for each zone was indicated by targets such as “the route between Haranomachi and Odaka Stations would be opened by spring of 2016”. For the route between Namie and Tomioka Stations which includes a problematic recovery zone, it has been determined that “operations will be resumed after completing the combined decontamination and restoration work as well as confirmation of the emergency safety measures for the users of this line.”

As for the Yamada Line, JR East Japan and the local government bodies agreed to transfer the management of the line from JR East Japan to Sanriku Railway in February 2015 and restoration work started on March 7.

Meanwhile, the MLIT Tohoku Department of Transportation has been appointed the secretariat for the Ofunato Line and the Kesennuma Line at the reconstruction coordination meetings comprised of municipalities along the railway lines, JR East, and restoration offices of each railway line, in order to move forward ideas for integrating the restoration of the railway lines with the city development. Furthermore, in order to secure public transportation for the immediate future, the BRT Note is being operated as a temporary restoration measure from December 22, 2012 for Kesennuma Line and from March 2, 2013 for Ofunato Line.

## (8) Ports/Harbors

For the ports and harbors, the disaster restoration on the port/harbor facilities vital to industry and logistics was mostly completed in FY2014. The restoration of the baymouth breakwater will be continued according plan, while the port/harbor facilities that are foundational to the economic recovery, such as quay walls and breakwater, have been repaired.

Meanwhile, the sea area landfill sites of Sendai Shiotaama and Ishino-maki ports zone and the Ibaraki and Hitachi-Naka ports zone are undergoing maintenance in order to advance the disposal of disaster waste produced by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Landfill disposal has started in the Sendai Shiotaama and Ishino-maki ports zone in February 2013, and