Japan rises from the ruins as transport systems revive

JAPAN`s 15 major ports along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku and Kanto regions in the nation`s north east have reopened as have most access roads after being pounded by the devastating earthquake and tsunami.

All 11 local airports in the north eastern part of the country have reopened to commercial traffic though the hardest hit Sendai Airport in Miyagi prefecture, which suffered serious damage, is only open to aircraft carrying aid.


Japanese Transport Minister Akihiro Ohata said restoration of the nation`s road and rail systems in the north east have made significant progress, reports Newark`s Journal of Commerce, which added that most railways, roads, airports and harbours functioning once more.


"We have pulled out all the stops to restore railways, roads, airports and ports," said Mr Ohata. "Roughly 80 to 90 per cent of them have now been restored."


"By utilising these routes to the fullest extent, we want to ensure that petrol, diesel oil, kerosene, heavy oil and other scarce commodities will be supplied to the affected areas and other places that need them," he said.


Five key arterial roads crisscrossing the hardest-hit Tohoku region have mostly reopened, with 97 to 100 per cent for disaster-related purposes and 93 to 100 per cent for ordinary purposes, the ministry said. The arterial roads include the Tohoku Expressway, the Joban Expressway, routes 4, 6 and 45.


But only about half of the rail system is functioning for both disaster-related and ordinary purposes, the report added.


The government estimates that the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami on the nation`s infrastructure, housing and corporate facilities in seven stricken prefectures will cost between US$200 billion and $300 billion to rebuild.