■Future blueprint for Japan-Korea tunnels in Karatsu, Iki, and Tsushima becomes concrete – 2015 summary –
Each of the three sites is moving forward as an inclined shaft base, and a "route" is beginning to appear, connecting the dots into a line. With the extension of the inclined shaft entrance on Tsushima, the completion of land clearance on Iki, and the implementation of shaft entrance surveys, the plan to connect with Karatsu to the east and Korea to the west is becoming more visible. Here is a summary of the progress made this year.
In June, construction work was carried out on Tsushima to extend the Aren Inclined Shaft entrance from 10m to 20m. This follows on from the construction work to install the entrance in July of last year, and the total length is now 20m, making it visible on satellite photos. Meanwhile, in Iki, clearing of the Ashibe Inclined Shaft base and construction of an access road (a 200m gravel road) were completed in July, and precise surveying for the installation of the entrance was carried out the following August.
As a result, construction plans have begun to be considered for digging a pilot tunnel leading to the main tunnel in an east-northeast direction. In Karatsu, 1,500 visitors were guided, and construction of a mega solar power plant was completed and began operation, with unused land being rented out to cover maintenance costs.
In addition, a promotional video (16 minutes) was shot in July by a Tokyo-based video production company. You can see the progress of the International Highway Project and the construction of the Japan-Korea Tunnel, which is the first step of the project, at your fingertips. Please take a look.
① March: Planting 100 cherry tree seedlings in Tsushima and Iki
②June: Tsushima Arane Incline Shaft: Extension work to 20m of the shaft entrance installed in July last year
③July Tsushima, Iki, Karatsu promotional video shooting
④August: Iki Ashibe Inclined Shaft: Precise surveying of the shaft entrance following land clearing
⑤July Karatsu, Iki, Tsushima site inspections and tours 1,500 people per year
⑥November: Construction of a mega solar power plant completed on a vacant lot in Karatsu.
