Before the opening of the so-called “Higashi-Hiroshima Bypass” connecting Kaita Town and Higashi-Hiroshima City on March 19, a commemorative event was held to show the road before opening.
The so-called “Higashi-Hiroshima Bypass” is a 17-kilometer road that connects Kaita-cho and Hachihonmatsu-cho, Higashi-Hiroshima City, and was developed with the aim of alleviating traffic congestion on National Route 2 that runs parallel to it.
Commemorative events were held on the 12th at three venues in Kaita-cho, Aki-ku, Hiroshima City, and Higashi-Hiroshima City, where the bypass will pass, one week ahead of the opening of the entire line.
Of these, in Higashi-Hiroshima City, a 4-kilometer round-trip road near the Hachihonmatsu-nishi Interchange was opened to the public, and participants enjoyed running on the pre-opening roads and tunnels, or walking around and enjoying the surrounding scenery.
A girl in the third grade of elementary school who participated said, “I walked through the tunnel and touched the wall for the first time. It was a good memory.”
Also, a couple in their 70s said, “The line of sight is different when driving and when walking, so I’m looking forward to seeing a different view the next time I drive.”