Japan's infrastructure, most of which was built during the period of high economic growth from the early 1960s to the early 1970s, is decaying and extensive repairs are required to prevent disasters like the December collapse of a section of the Sasago Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway. But finding the necessary funds to carry out this task presents a huge challenge.
The government must quickly work out plans on how to proceed with reconstruction. In doing so, it should carefully listen to the opinions of the general public and businesses as the rebuilding will directly affect them.
Under the law that transformed Japan Highway Public Corp. and three other expressway public corporations into six private expressway companies in 2005, the six companies are supposed to collect expressway tolls through 2050, then make the expressways toll-free after that. But the problem is that the expressway tolls won't cover the funds needed for rebuilding decaying sections and bridges of the expressways. It is estimated that rebuilding will cost ¥7 trillion to ¥12.5 trillion.
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