## Section 2

## The Steady Recovery and Reconstruction of Infrastructures and Transportation

## (1) Outline

For the public infrastructures under the jurisdiction of the MLIT, we are steadily working towards transitioning from emergency restoration phase to full-scale restoration and reconstruction, based on the project plan and progress schedule. We will continue our endeavors now and in the future to achieve the full recovery of north-eastern Japan as soon as possible, while staying mindful of requests from disaster stricken areas.

## (2) Coastal Countermeasures

In terms of the full-scale restoration and reconstruction of the coastal levees and so on, of the shores of the 677 districts where restoration and reconstruction is to be done, construction has begun in 459 districts and has been completed in 106 districts as of the end of March 2015. Of these, a section of about 34km has been finished out of the approximately 41km of the national construction area (including the section for which the national government will cover disaster recovery), with the completion of its entirety aimed to be around the end of March 2018. Also, reconstruction of the bay mouth breakwaters will be continued systematically so that there will be as little hindrance as possible to the city building and industry activity, and is targeted to be completed around the end of March 2019.

In proceeding with construction, whenever possible, we are incorporating structures where the effects of the levees will persistently demonstrate their capabilities, even when they are struck by tsunamis. In Iwanuma City, Miyagi, we have established a model where the coastal levees are integrated with green coastal levees comprised of coastal levees with vegetation planted throughout. We also actively use disaster waste for coastal levee material, while paying careful attention to the surrounding landscape and natural environment during reconstruction.

## (3) River Countermeasures

For areas on the state-managed embankments that had been damaged by the disaster, full-scale recovery to secure a safety level equivalent to before the disaster has been completed. While coordinating with the restoration plans formulated by the municipalities, we will continue to gradually build the embankments up to the necessary height, and also work step by step on countermeasures for earthquake and liquefaction, as well as automatic and remote control operation of the floodgates.

## (4) Sewage System

Out of the 120 sewage treatment plants affected by the disaster (excluding the 9 plants within the evacuation order area in the Fukushima prefecture), 2 plants do not need to be in operation as there is no waste-water being generated, and for the 117 other plants—not including the Sendai Minami Gamo Purification Center where the damage was extensive—the recovery of normal processing levels were completed by the end of FY2012. Of the treatment plants located within Fukushima prefecture’s “evacuation order cancellation ready area,” 3 plants have already completed full-scale recovery. In regards to the 675km of sewer pipes affected by the disaster, 652km of it was fully recovered as of the end of FY2015. We will continue to work in accordance with the reconstruction plan, and aim for earliest possible restoration and reconstruction, combined with the incorporation of earthquake- and tsunami-resistant structures.

## (5) Countermeasures against Sediment-related Disasters

We are working on landslide countermeasures in water system areas like the Abukuma River, where there is a strong possibility that an intense seismic movement would cause unstable sediment to fluidize, which would lead to extensive damage to important transportation networks that are essential to the reconstruction work in the affected areas. Our goal is to complete these countermeasures by the end of FY2015.

## (6) Roads

(1) In regard to expressways, of which there were already sections in the caution zones before the Joban Expressway zone review, the section between Joban Tomioka IC and Hirono IC was reopened on February 22, 2014 and the section between Minami-Soma IC and Namie IC, which had been under construction at the time of the disaster, was opened on December 6, 2014. The remaining section between Namie IC and Joban IC was opened on March 1, 2015, approximately