1. Report on 3-Year Plan for Improving Safety
  2. List of activities
  3. "Even in the winter, secure safe traffic. Measures against snow and ice and our thoughts."

Responsible for improving safety NEXCO CENTRAL Group employees

"Even in winter, secure safe traffic.
Snow and ice measures for that and our thoughts. "

  • Hiroyuki Horiuchi
    NEXCO CENTRAL
    Kanazawa Regional Head Office Toyama Conservation and Service Center Maintenance ManagerHiroyuki Horiuchi
    NEXCO CENTRAL At the Toyama Conservation and Service Center at Regional Head Office, Kanazawa was in charge of road maintenance for Hokuriku Expressway and Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway.

Please tell me the characteristics of the area managed by the Toyama Conservation and Service Center and the system for snow and ice measures

Horiuchi: Toyama Prefecture has the fourth largest amount of snowfall in Japan, with an annual snowfall of 3.8m. Gokayama and other heavy snowfall areas in Japan make snow and ice measures indispensable in winter. The skilled tube, the original of snow and ice headquarters of Toyama Conservation Service Center, Hokuriku Expressway 4 base to, Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway There are a total of seven locations of snow and ice base of 3 base in. 7 making full use of the beginning all 70 cars snow and ice measures vehicle of the snow removal track of the 35 units at the base sum, Hokuriku Expressway 160 people, Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway 70 people, we are working on snow and ice measures in the framework of a total of 230 people.

Jurisdiction of Toyama Conservation and Service Center
Jurisdiction of Toyama Conservation and Service Center
Owns 35 snowplow trucks
Owns 35 snowplow trucks

Please tell us the important points in collecting information

Horiuchi: There is a reason why we have such a system in our jurisdiction. For example, even if one weather information is taken, not only the data using the measuring equipment but also the weather change and road surface information collected by the eyes of the people at the site play an important role. There is a lot of information that can only be obtained by patrols, such as local snowfall and sudden changes in temperature. If the weather changes from rain to snow sooner than the weather forecast, we will take appropriate measures based on the weather information collected directly at the pinpoint. Because of the experience and knowledge cultivated so far, it is possible to take various measures such as predicting road surface conditions and examining detailed snow and ice measures.

Please tell us about the difficulties in snow removal

Snow removal work by ladder snow removal
Snow removal work by ladder snow removal

Horiuchi: Snow falling on Hokuriku contains a lot of water vapor, making it very heavy and difficult to remove. The snow is removed by a ladder composed of snow plow trucks with snow plows attached to the front. The operator is required to have high driving skills because it is difficult to see the road surface when snow is falling.
In addition, In-bound in such as slope, may also be stuck uphill disabled vehicle, it may snow removal work itself is stopped. Troubles that occur in winter in our area are often caused by vehicles that cannot climb hills.Therefore, to rescue or move vehicles stuck due to snow near places where such events are likely to occur. A tractor shovel has been deployed to prevent snow removal work from stalling.

Snow removal work by ladder snow removal
Snow removal work by ladder snow removal

What are the difficulties of spraying antifreeze?

Horiuchi: Even if it is not snowing, if the road surface temperature drops below 0 ° C and freezes, there is a risk that the car will slip. Even after spraying the deicing agent in such a state, it is slow, so we are taking into account the time required for the spraying vehicle to make one round of the route and the time required for loading the deicing agent. For example, if it takes one hour to make a round of the route, it is most efficient if it can be started one hour and thirty minutes before the road surface reaches 0 ° C, taking into account the work time of loading the deicing agent of about 30 minutes. I can say. In other words, the timing of spraying the deicing agent is important. Especially around Shirakawa-go, the road surface temperature at night falls to 10 ° C below freezing, and the salt concentration on the road surface needs to be kept high. It is also important to determine the amount and timing of spraying antifreeze.

In addition, it is important to check the concentration, since the required effect will not be exhibited if the salt concentration on the road surface decreases. Until last year, we stopped at the time of snow and ice patrol and measured salt concentration, but from this year we introduced a test system that can constantly check salinity concentration and temperature etc. while transmitting and send information to the headquarters Did. Since the concentration is sensed by the splash from the road, it is possible to make more detailed plans by always being able to observe, and there is also an advantage that the safety of the patrol personnel is maintained because there is no need to get off the patrol vehicle.

Loading of deicing agent. Opened on the second floor and loaded in the waiting vehicle belowLoading of deicing agent. Opened on the second floor and loaded in the waiting vehicle below
Loading of deicing agent. Opened on the second floor and loaded in the waiting vehicle below
Loading of deicing agent. Opened on the second floor and loaded in the waiting vehicle below
Loading of deicing agent. Opened on the second floor and loaded in the waiting vehicle below
Loading of deicing agent. Opened on the second floor and loaded in the waiting vehicle below
A device that measures the salinity of the road surface has been introduced on a trial basis with water splashing from the road.
A device that measures the salinity of the road surface has been introduced on a trial basis with water splashing from the road.

Finally, please tell us your thoughts on snow and ice measures.

Horiuchi: Snow and ice measures are a fight against nature. Forecasts can be off, and local events can occur and are often confusing. Since Toyama is one of Japan's torrential snow areas, our mission is to secure Expressway traffic in the winter and ensure safe use by our customers, and we will work on quick and accurate snow and ice measures.

List of activities

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