The description is as of the time of construction. The Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, including the Hida Tunnel, was fully opened on July 5, 2008.

The Hida Tunnel is a tunnel under construction between the Hida Kiyomi Junction and the Shirakawago Interchange, which connects the Tokai-Hokuriku Expwy and the Chubu-Jukan Expwy (Takayama Kiyomi Road).
This section (approximately 25 km) passes through a steep mountainous area, and ten tunnels will be constructed. The Hida tunnel is a long road tunnel that extends approximately 10.7 km in length, which passes through Mt.

Introduction of the project

• Hida tunnel construction progress
• This is the second extension in Japan.
• The main shaft and evacuation shaft will be constructed.
• The TBM method is used for tunnel excavation.
• How does TBM dig?
• It is the world's largest TBM. "Yume Tensei 2000"
• A fierce battle. "Water pressure" and "earth pressure" ...
• Topic (Site visit to Prime Minister Koizumi)

Around 1km from the Shirakawakata pit, it ran into an unexpected "bad mountain zone", and construction was difficult due to "water pressure" due to high pressure and large amount of spring water and "earth pressure" due to soil cover.
Indeed, it was a “grand struggle” between water and soil.
At present, the TBM has been introduced, and the test operation was started on January 9, 2004, as it was largely out of the "bad area".

The main shaft of the Hida tunnel of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expwy was successfully penetrated on January 13, 2007.
Although the construction was so difficult that it was said to be the last difficult task in the 20th century, we were able to overcome it with the help of everyone. It took nine years and four months from the start of drilling of the advanced pit, but I would also like to thank and report that we achieved zero fatal accidents.
After the opening of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expwy distance between Nagoya and Toyama is about 60 km shorter (about 310 km → about 250 km) than via the Hokuriku Expwy, and about 1 hour and 30 minutes (5 hours and 30 minutes) longer than via Route 41 (→ 4 hours), and the two economic zones (Tokai and Hokuriku) are directly connected, contributing to the development of industry, culture and tourism.
In the future, we will proceed with the construction of disaster prevention facilities and paving inside the tunnel. Various constructions are required before opening, but we will do our best for the early opening, so we ask for your further understanding and cooperation.

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), which played an active role in the excavation of the Hida Tunnel, has completed its role and has begun demolition work.
This dismantling work will take about 5 months.
In parallel with the demolition work, we will proceed with construction work such as disaster prevention equipment and pavement inside the tunnel for opening.
We will continue to do our utmost to open it early, and we ask for your continued understanding and cooperation.

The Hida Tunnel is the second road tunnel in Japan (8th in the world) as a road tunnel.
(* Excluding in-service tunnels other than Hida Tunnel. ＜ JH research: As of June 2003 ＞ )

The Hida Tunnel consists of a main pit and an evacuation pit. The evacuation pit is excavated prior to the main pit, and also serves as an overview of the geology at the time of construction of the main pit and drains water. Below the roadway of the main mine, we will effectively use it as a ventilation pit.

The entire length of the Hida Tunnel is 2% Out-bound from the Kawai side to the Shirakawa side. Excavation from the Shirakawa side is mainly planned in consideration of drainage during construction. In order to install this extension of about 10 km from one side, TBM, which has excellent high-speed performance, is used.

TBM is an acronym for Tunnel Boring Machine.
Drilling is performed by computer control, pressing a rock on a rock with a roller cutter on the front and excavating like a drill.

The main tunnel of the Hida tunnel will be constructed with the world's largest (12.84m diameter) TBM among mountain tunnels.
Following the “Taro Tensho” TBM for evacuation pits (advanced pits) introduced earlier, the TBM “Yumetensei 2000” for the main pit will be introduced at last.