On Sept. 20, the government lifted traffic restrictions on National Highway Route 114 in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture, and other roads in areas that were designated as difficult-to-return zones following the nuclear accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.'s Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant.
　Unrestricted traffic on these roads resumed for the first time in 6.1/2 years, since April 2011, in the immediate aftermath of the nuclear accident.
　The resumption of unrestricted traffic is expected to help improve convenience for residents and business operators involved in such work as restoration and reconstruction, and accelerate the reconstruction of the town.

　政府は２０日、東京電力福島第１原発事故に伴う帰還困難区域内で通行を制限していた浪江町の国道１１４号などの通行制限を解除し、事故直後の２０１１年４月以来６年半ぶりに自由通行を再開した。住民や復旧・復興事業に携わる事業者などの利便性向上、町の復興加速が期待される。

　Although Route 114 served as an arterial roadway, following the nuclear accident, manned gates were set up after the government designated as warning zones areas within a 20-kilometer radius of the nuclear power plant. No one except residents and business operators with permits issued by the Namie town government were allowed to travel the route.

　 国道１１４号は双葉郡と中通りを結ぶ幹線道路だが、原発事故で半径２０キロ圏が警戒区域に指定されたことに伴い、有人ゲートが設置され、町の事前許可を受けた住民や事業者以外は通行できなかった。

　Traffic restrictions have now been lifted for an about 27-kilometer section of the national highway connecting an area near the Namie interchange on the Joban Expressway and Kawamata, the town adjacent to Namie, as well as parts of the prefectural highway roads leading to the national highway.
　For the purpose of crime prevention, only automobiles can travel on these roads. As an anticrime measure, the central government has set up barricades at 88 points along branch roads.

　通行制限が解除されたのは、国道１１４号の常磐道浪江インターチェンジ付近から浪江町に隣接する川俣町を結ぶ約２７キロと、同国道に接続する相馬浪江線、原町浪江線の両県道の一部。防犯の観点から通行は自動車に限定。政府は防犯対策として枝道８８カ所にバリケードを新設した。

　The Fukushima prefectural police will patrol around-the-clock in police cars and increase the number of checkpoints, while its air unit will conduct air patrols.

　県警は２４時間態勢でパトカーによる巡回や検問などの回数を増やすほか、航空隊による上空からの巡回を行う。

　In the sections where unrestricted traffic was resumed, there is an about 10-kilometer section where mobile phones do not work, which poses another concern. The Namie town government calls for drivers to use emergency telephones set up at points along the roads in the case of an accident.

　自由通行となった区間内で携帯電話の不通区間が約１０キロ続くのも懸念材料。浪江町は事故に遭った際は沿道に設置している非常電話の利用を呼び掛けている。

　◆High hopes among residents
　At 6 a.m. on Sept. 20, the gates on the Kawamata and Namie sides were opened by officials in charge.
　"I no longer need to show a travel permit, and this will shorten travel time," Hisashi Suzuki said with delight.
　He was going to Namie from his accommodation in Nihonmatsu, in the same prefecture. "I hope the [town's] reconstruction will move forward a little."
　Suzuki planned to visit his family grave in the autumn equinoctial week and report on the resumption of traffic to his ancestors.

　◆待ちわびた１１４号
　同日午前６時、川俣町側と浪江町側のゲートが係員によって開放された。
　「通行許可証を見せる必要がなくなったから、時間短縮になる」。二本松市の借り上げ住宅から浪江町へ向かう鈴木寿さん（８５）はうれしそうに話した。「少しは（浪江町の）復興が進むかな」。彼岸の墓参りで先祖に再開通を報告するつもりだ。

　While road traffic was restricted, the gates were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. People using the roads often worried about the time when they traveled.
　Hidezo Sato, chairman of the association of Namie administrative district heads, used the newly reopened national highway route from Namie. "Now I don't need to be anxious about the time, and I can travel at my own convenience," Sato said cheerfully.

　通行が制限されている間は、ゲートの開放時間が午前６時から午後７時までだったため、時間を気にしながらの移動になることが多かった。浪江町から国道１１４号を利用した同町行政区長会長の佐藤秀三さん（７２）は「これで時間を気にしなくて良くなった。自分の都合で移動できる」と喜んだ。

　"The resumption of unrestricted traffic will help boost interactions between people and exchanges of goods," said Namie Mayor Tamotsu Baba. "We'd like to take thorough security measures."

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　 馬場有町長は「自由通行によって、中通りとの人的・物的交流が盛んになる。防犯についても万全の対策を講じていく」と述べた。

　【　２０１７年９月２１日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】