Audit finds 354 emergency bridges at risk in major earthquakes

At least 354 bridges on emergency transport routes across Japan are at risk of collapsing during a major earthquake, according to a government report urging local authorities to immediately begin strengthening projects.

These weak bridges were found in four provinces and two cities during an audit board inspection.

The collapse includes: six bridges in Aomori Prefecture; 247 in Iwate Prefecture; two in Nagano Prefecture; 48 in Yamaguchi Prefecture; five in Yokohama; and 46 in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture.

The Council reviewed bridge works carried out by 14 national road operators and 30 local governments during the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years.

Emergency transportation routes play a crucial role in connecting vital hubs during disasters.

It is required to withstand earthquakes equivalent to the magnitude of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, and to be fully restored within one day.

Seismic retrofitting of bridges on these roads involves two phases: initial work to prevent bridge decks from collapsing and additional reinforcement to ensure rapid recovery after the disaster.

The review also highlighted the lack of prioritization in project selection and stressed the need for effective and optimal resource allocation.

In Yamaguchi Prefecture, for example, 11 bridges underwent additional reinforcement for rapid disaster recovery, but 48 bridges remained lacking foundation work to prevent their decks from collapsing.

The Board stressed the need to effectively use limited budgets to prioritize retrofit efforts, noting that a bridge collapse could significantly delay recovery efforts.

As of March 2023, 81 percent of bridges on emergency transportation routes across the country have been upgraded to meet the required standards.

However, nearly 1,200 bridges remain at risk of collapsing during a major earthquake, according to the Lands Ministry.

While the Department urges local governments to prioritize seismic strengthening of these most vulnerable structures, the final decision rests with each individual local government.

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