Provisional Translation
| OTO No. | 575 | Classification | MOC-21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of Acceptance | July 13, 1998 | Ministry/Agency Receiving Complaint | Economic Planning Agency |
| Responsible Ministries | Ministry of Construction | Related Laws | Road Law Order Restricting Vehicles |
| Complainant | Domestic firm | Exporting Countries | USA |
| Subject | Extension of roads on which trailers transporting ISO-standard containers for sea transport can pass | ||
| Details of Measures | Description of Complaint: 1. Since April 1, 1998, fully loaded ISO-standard containers for sea transport are allowed to use expressways and designated roads. But although designated roads link the main ports, they do not run to industrial parks or importers and even though the complainant applies for permits for the intended routes, the permits are refused in 90 percent of the cases. 2. The current designated road network is of no actual benefit as transport routes for ISO-standard sea containers, and the network of designated roads should be extended to run to industrial parks and cargo terminals. The ministry replied as follows: 1. Since April 1, 1998, vehicles transporting fully-loaded ISO-standard containers have been allowed to use expressways and roads designated under Order Restricting Vehicles No. 3, Article 1, Clause 2 (referred to hereafter as "designated roads") by getting permission for special vehicles in accordance with Article 47-2 of the Road Law. 2. As of April 1, 1998, there were 26,000 km, ordinary national roads, named as designated roads depending on proper road conditioning by strengthening bridges. Together with the 6, 400 km of expressways on which transport is permitted, there is now a total road network of 32,500 km over which large vehicles may pass. 3. Regarding the status of designated roads, a comprehensive study is being made of whether access to industrial parks and other main physical distribution facilities is possible. The necessary procedures are being taken to announce the naming of additional designated roads by the end of January 1999, based on physical distribution demand and road conditioning status. Following the ministry's reply, the following measures were taken. 1. An additional 700 km of roads, mainly roads linking major ports and distribution centers, were added to the list of designated roads from December 15, 1998, bringing the network of designated roads to a total of approximately 33,200 km. 2. Concurrently, regarding roads connecting expressways and designated roads which are not yet named designated roads themselves but for which the body in charge of maintaining roads has determined are sufficiently conditioned and which can allow safe passage, will be administered in the same way as designated roads where transit permits for vehicles transporting ISO-standard containers or other special vehicles are concerned, in the interim period until such roads are named as designated roads, thus speeding up action to meet needs for transit of large vehicles. |
||
| Classification of Processing | A | Directions | I-a III |
| Remarks | Improvement measures were taken on December 15, 1998. | ||