It looks like Naruo Bridge (the side road along the Bayshore Route) will be completely closed to traffic from June 17 due to bridge replacement work.
The reopening date has been decided↓
According to the linked article, Naruo Bridge, where a boat swept away by strong winds during Typhoon No. 21 last September struck the bridge girder, will be closed to traffic from midnight on June 17 for bridge girder replacement work.
The work is expected to be completed by the end of September, and the bridge, which has only been open one-way eastbound until now, is expected to fully reopen.
This time, the bridge girder appears to have shifted 40 cm to the north due to the damage.
Here it is on the map↓
目次
There’s a slightly scary signboard
When driving eastbound, there was a sign like this↓
It’s kind of scary.
The bridge girder is damaged. Please slow down.
Somehow, the word “damaged” makes it sound pretty serious.
Most of the vehicles using this road are trucks.
It’s impressive that the bridge can withstand so many heavy vehicles constantly passing over it.
The fact that they went out of their way to write “Do not drive outside the lane” probably means it really is dangerous.
It’s actually a very convenient road
If you live in the southern part of Nishinomiya, you probably use this road quite a bit when going to Ashiya or around Higashinada in Kobe.
Apparently it’s called Prefectural Route Ashiya-Naruohama Line. I didn’t know that! I didn’t know it was called Naruo Bridge either.
There are no traffic lights through the areas below, Ashiyahama and Koshienhama, so this section is a convenient road.
- Fukaehama
- Ashiyahama
- Nishinomiyahama
- Koshienhama
- Naruohama
Since the typhoon damage last year, Naruo Bridge had been completely closed, and eastbound traffic became possible from December 10, 2018.
There may be people who have been looking forward to the bridge being fully open again after about a year.
They want drivers to detour via Route 43
According to Hyogo Prefecture, they would like drivers to detour via Route 43.
Screenshot from Hyogo Prefecture’s “Materials on the expected future restoration of Naruo Bridge on the Prefectural Route Ashiya-Naruohama Line” (2019/5/30)
Thinking about eastbound and westbound detours
There’s also the option of using Rinko Line, but eastbound traffic has congestion points.
For westbound traffic, either Rinko Line or Route 43 should be fine.
Also for westbound traffic, although it’s a toll route, another option is to take Rinko Line toward Amagasaki and use the Bayshore Route from the “Amagasaki Suematsu Entrance.”
Finally
Eastbound traffic will be possible until the end of June 16. Please drive slowly and be careful not to cross out of your lane.
