On Feb. 16, the Japanese land ministry announced that the 7.2 km-section of the Higashi-Kyushu Expressway between the Shiida-minami and Buzen interchanges (located in Chikujo Town and Buzen City, respectively) will be opened on Apr. 24. The opening of this section will create a continuous 320 km-stretch of highway connecting Kitakyushu to Miyazaki in about 4 hours and 20 minutes. (The entire expressway, still unconnected in a few spots, runs 436 km from Kitakyushu to Kagoshima.) Hopes are high that the new link will provide a much needed boost to the tourism and logistics sectors. Construction of the Shiida-minami-Buzen link was delayed due to opposition from a mikan orchard owner who refused to sell his property. The Prefectural government exercised eminent domain to seize the property last year. Source: Nexco press release, 2/16
