Prioritized snow removal on the uphill sections of national trunk highways

At times of intense snowfall, designated sections of national trunk highways where large vehicles tend to become stuck, such as sections with steep gradients, are closed, and snow removal is concentrated on those sections. For FY2017, 214 sections (approx. 2,800 km) were designated in this way.

Traffic jam caused by vehicles that cannot drive uphill because they are not equipped for winter driving

Vehicles form a long queue behind a vehicle that has become stuck while traveling uphill. The photo is from the 2010 Aizu Heavy Snowfall.

Inspection for winter tire use and mandatory tire chain use

When there is snow or ice at a mountain’s pass but not at its foot, the road administrator checks to make sure that vehicles are equipped with winter tires and chains, in order to prevent traffic jams from vehicles that are not equipped for winter driving.

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