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- 2025-01-11_Chuo
The construction of the Shizuoka section of the Chuo Linear Shinkansen remains uncertain, with the project’s expected completion now pushed beyond 2035. Following the transition from former Shizuoka Governor Heita Kawakatsu to Yasutomo Suzuki in May 2023, previously stalled negotiations between the prefecture and JR Central gained momentum. Preliminary boring surveys, which had been blocked under Kawakatsu due to environmental concerns, proceeded swiftly. However, lingering concerns over environmental impacts have made JR Central cautious about submitting administrative applications, delaying the project further.
Unmet Expectations
Officials had hoped for rapid progress following the change in governance, but significant breakthroughs failed to materialize in the latter half of 2023. JR Central initially aimed to open the Shinagawa-Nagoya section by 2027, but persistent opposition from Kawakatsu led to the abandonment of that goal in March 2023. After Suzuki’s appointment, efforts to advance the project resumed, with the governor reaffirming cooperation with then-Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Tetsuo Saito, and JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa. An agreement was also reached to proceed with boring from Yamanashi into Shizuoka, a move Kawakatsu had previously blocked over concerns about reduced water flow in the Ōi River.
Slow Progress in Discussions
Despite these developments, the official start of construction remains unclear. JR Central estimates at least 10 years for project completion from the start of work. Even if construction began this year, completion would not be expected until 2035 at the earliest. Officials express frustration over the slow pace of discussions in Shizuoka Prefecture’s expert panel, which was established by Kawakatsu. The national expert committee completed its review in December 2023, but the prefecture identified 28 additional items requiring verification in February 2024. Nearly a year later, only four of those have been addressed. Suzuki admitted in a press conference on January 6 that completing the review within the year would be difficult.
Construction Troubles Elsewhere
Meanwhile, issues related to tunnel excavation have emerged in other locations. In Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture, groundwater levels dropped, causing subsidence, while in Machida, Tokyo, water unexpectedly surfaced in residential gardens. JR Central’s Niwa acknowledged the company’s desire to start construction as soon as possible but stressed the need for a careful, step-by-step approach.
Future Prospects
The government remains committed to opening the full Tokyo-Osaka route by 2037. However, if construction in Shizuoka is further delayed, even partial service between Shinagawa and Nagoya by 2037 may become unfeasible. Ministry officials are determined to begin work this year, while a meeting of municipalities along the route is scheduled for June. Observers believe that Suzuki, approaching his first anniversary as governor, will want to demonstrate tangible progress by then.
Info based on: https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/news/national ... r-BB1rgE1n 2025-01-11