Diversification of road use
The roles that roads should play have been changing as the tasks facing society have changed, the birth rate has fallen and our society has aged, and as a result of environmental problems, the IT revolution, urban renewal problems, etc. It is also predicted that finances available for investment in roads will decline in spite of a steady rise in the quantity of road maintenance and road reconstruction to be carried out as the existing road stock deteriorates. To respond to these changes in social conditions, we must use existing limited road spaces more effectively, by for example, reallocating these spaces.
Research by the Advanced Road Design and Safety Division
１）Road space reallocation methods 　　In order to create road space and road networks that are suitable for urban society, the Division carries out research on the effective use of road stock that has already been constructed 　　The roles and functions that roads are required to provide are changing to meet the needs of an aging society with a low birth rate, a society concerned with environmental problems, and other new social conditions. 　　We intend to carry out wide-ranging research including the study of road space reallocation overseas, in order to more efficiently and more comprehensively meet new requirements without being bound by past views concerning the use of road space, including space above, below, and on both sides of roads as well as actual road space.
Image of Reallocation of an Arterial Road (Reducing Lanes and Widening Sidewalks)
Image of Reallocation of a Non-Arterial Road
Image of Reallocation by Time-sharing