Sasago Tunnel
{{Short description|Motorway tunnel in Yamanashi, Japan}}
{{Infobox tunnel
|name = Sasago Tunnel
{{nihongo|笹子トンネル|Sasago Tonneru}}
|image = SasagoTNnobori-int.JPG
|caption = Kōshū entrance to the Sasago Tunnel
May 2009
|location = Yamanashi Prefecture
|coordinates = {{Coord|35|37|16|N|138|47|34|E|display=inline,title}}
|route = 25px Chūō Expressway
|status = Operational
|start = Ōtsuki, Yamanashi
|end = Kōshū, Yamanashi
|startwork =
|opened = 1977
|closed = 2012-13 (temporary closure due to ceiling collapse)
|owner = Central Nippon Expressway Company
|operator =
|traffic = Automobiles{{•}} Motorbikes
|character =
|toll =
|vpd =
|construction =
|length = {{convert|4.784|km|mi}} (Tokyo-bound)
{{convert|4.717|km|mi}} (Nagoya-bound)
|lanes = 2 uni-directional in each bore
|speed =
|hielevation =
|lowelevation =
|height =
|width =
|grade =
}}
The {{Nihongo|Sasago Tunnel|笹子トンネル|Sasago Tonneru}} is a twin-bore motorway tunnel on the Chūō Expressway located on the border of the cities of Kōshū and Ōtsuki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.{{cite web | url = http://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/saigai/koufu_dis00028.html | script-title=ja:中央自動車道笹子トンネル天井板落下事故関連情報 | year = 2012 | publisher = Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kanto Regional Development Bureau | location = Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan | language = Japanese |trans-title=Information on Chuo Expressway Sasebo Tunnel Ceiling Panel Collapse | accessdate = 2012-12-04}} It is located about {{convert|80|km|mi}} west of the capital Tokyo.{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1019392/japan-police-motorway-tunnel-caves-in|title=Japan Police: Motorway Tunnel Caves In |publisher=Sky News|date=2012-12-02 |accessdate=2012-12-02}}{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/01/world/asia/japan-tunnel/index.html|title=Cars trapped after Japanese tunnel collapse |publisher=CNN|date=2012-12-02 |access-date=2012-12-02}} It was built in 1977.Martin Fackler (2 December 2012), [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/world/asia/tunnel-collapse-outside-tokyo-traps-motorists.html Nine Killed When Highway Tunnel Collapses in Japan] New York Times
Ceiling collapse
At approximately 8 am on December 2, 2012, nearly 150 concrete ceiling panels inside the Tokyo-bound Sasago Tunnel collapsed, crushing three vehicles, including a van, carrying six persons, that caught fire.[http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00236386.html 中央道・笹子トンネル内で崩落事故 車数台が巻き込まれる] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203042458/http://www.fnn-news.com/news/headlines/articles/CONN00236386.html |date=2012-12-03 }}(フジニュースネットワークニュース2012年12月02日11:04配信(配信日に閲覧)){{cite web|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/nine-dead-in-japan-tunnel-collapse-reports-1.1062432|title=Nine dead in Japan tunnel collapse: reports|publisher=CTV News|date=2012-12-02|accessdate=2012-12-02}} The fallen panels were {{convert|20|cm}} thick and weighed {{convert|1.2|t|}} each. The caved-in point was {{convert|2|km}} from the Tokyo-side exit and spanned a length of {{convert|50|to|60|m|ft}}.{{cite news|last=Ozawa|first=Harumi|title=Seven trapped in Japan tunnel collapse|url=http://www.theage.com.au/world/seven-trapped-in-japan-tunnel-collapse-20121202-2aoo5.html|accessdate=2 December 2012|newspaper=The Age|date=2 December 2012|agency=AFP}} Smoke could be seen billowing from the Kōshū entrance to the tunnel.{{cite web|url=http://www.trust.org/alertnet/multimedia/pictures/detail.dot?mediaInode=4c95a5c5-6b67-4da1-82d0-756163aa6181|title=Smoke is seen from the Sasago Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway as Police officers gather in Koshu|publisher=Photo posted at AlertNet|date=2012-12-02|accessdate=2012-12-02|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130113174353/http://www.trust.org/alertnet/multimedia/pictures/detail.dot?mediaInode=4c95a5c5-6b67-4da1-82d0-756163aa6181|archivedate=2013-01-13}}
Nine people died and two were injured, making it the deadliest roadway accident in Japanese history. The tunnel was closed for a period of 27 days for repairs and removal of ceiling panels, before the south tube reopened on December 29.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20576883|title=Japan orders tunnel inspections after Sasago collapse |publisher=BBC News|date=2012-12-03 |accessdate=2012-12-03}} The north tube, where the collapse happened, reopened on February 8, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20130208/k10015377831000.html|title=笹子トンネル ２か月ぶり全面開通へ|publisher=NHK News|date=2013-02-08 |accessdate=2013-02-08}}
The nature of the collapse closely resembled a similar ceiling collapse in the Fort Point Channel Tunnel in Boston, Massachusetts in 2006.
File:SasagoTNnaibu.JPG|Inside of the tunnel before the accident. Ceiling panels are visible on the top
File:Sasago tunnel ceiling panel is removed, the ventilation system were built.JPG|Temporary opening of tunnel with ceiling panels removed and replaced by ceiling fan
File:Sasago Tunnel(Chūō Expwy) 3D model 2.png|Cross section model of Sasago Tunnel
File:Sasago Tunnel(Chūō Expwy) collapsed 3D model 2.png|Model showing collapsed ceiling panels
References
{{reflist|40em}}
External links
- {{Commons-inline|Category:Sasago_Tunnel_(Chuo_Expressway)|Sasago Tunnel}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Transport buildings and structures in Yamanashi Prefecture
Category:Roads in Yamanashi Prefecture
Category:Road tunnels in Japan
Category:2012 industrial disasters
Category:December 2012 in Japan
Category:Tunnels completed in 1977
Category:Road incidents in Japan
Category:2012 road incidents in Asia