Shimanami Kaido Finally Open

The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido was opened to traffic on Saturday, May 1. The project of linking the main island of Honshu with Shikoku via a western route has taken 24 years to complete.

Tape-cutting ceremonies were held at both ends of the route, after which a cavalcade of vehicles set off for the Tatara-Ohashi, which is roughly at the midway point. Another tape-cutting ceremony was held, after which guests assembled at the Setoda Parking Area, where the formal opening ceremony took place in the presence of Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako. During the ceremony Mr. Sekiya, the Construction Minister, expressed condolences for the 14 workers who lost their lives during the construction of the route and indicated that work would begin on the unfinished sections of the route, in Ikuchijima and Oshima, during the present fiscal year.

The opening of the route is being marked by a series of events which will go on till October. Among the first of these was a twinning ceremony with the Normandy Bridge, which, until the opening of the Tatara Bridge, was the longest cable-stay bridge in the world.

A novel feature of the new route is that nine of the bridges are open to pedestrians and cyclists and access for the former is free. The two other routes which connect Honshu and Shikoku have not, so far, reached their projected traffic volume, but the fact that cyclists and pedestrians can use the route, which affords splendid views of the Seto Inland Sea, is expected to have an impact on local tourism.

Closing the Gates

The Saijo campus of Hiroshima University became a 'closed' campus from 6 May. A total of eight gates have been installed on or near the perimeter road and access to the campus, for teachers, staff, and students alike with four-wheeled vehicles, will require the use of a 'pass card' costing \8,000 for the year. The 'pass card' is not available to first and second year students, nor to those who live within a certain distance from the campus, for example, students and staff who live in the nearby faculty and student residences.

The decision to end the university's 'open campus' system was made in view of the rash of muggings and thefts from students over the past few years. Three years ago access to the campus was restricted after 9 o'clock at night. Nevertheless the response to the new arrangements has not been completely positive. One student complained that although she would not be able to use a car until her third year, she would still have to stay late at night to do scientific experiments. She was not entirely happy at the prospect of walking home alone in the dark.

「瀬戸内しまなみ海道がついに開通」

　５月１日土曜日、瀬戸内しまなみ海道がついに開通した。本州と四国を西のルートで結ぶ計画は、その完成までに24年かかった。テープカットがルートの両端で行われた後、ほぼ中央に位置する多々羅大橋に向けて車の行列が出発した。そこで、別のテープカット式をした後、来賓客が瀬戸田パーキングエリアに移動。皇太子ご夫妻を迎えての正式な開通式典があった。式典の中で関谷建設相は、建設工事中に亡くなった14名に哀悼の意を表し、生口島と大島の島内の未開通部分の工事も本年度中には始まることを明らかにした。

　このルートの開通を記念する様々な行事は10月まで続く。その中の一番初めの行事として、多々羅大橋が開通するまでは世界で最長の斜長橋だったノルマンディー橋との姉妹橋調印式が行われた。このルートの特徴は、９つの橋が歩行者や自転車に開放されており、歩行者は無料で利用できることだ。本州と四国を結ぶ他の２つのルートは、今のところ予想された交通量に達していないが、瀬戸内海のすばらしい景色を自転車と歩行者が楽しめるこのルートは、地元の観光事業を活気づけそうだ。

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「ゲートの閉鎖」

　広島大の西条キャンパスは、５月６日から「閉じられた」キャンパスとなりそうだ。キャンパス周辺の道路には8つのゲートが設置され、車を利用する教職員や学生がキャンパスへ入るためには年間８千円のパスカードが必要となる。このパスカードは1、2年生、大学の近くや寮などキャンパスから一定の距離範囲内に住む学生や教職員は手に入れることができない。

　大学が「オープンキャンパス」制度をやめることになったのは、過去数年にわたる学生に対しての暴行や窃盗が相次いだためだ。３年前、午後９時以降の大学への進入を制限した。しかし今回の新しいシステムに対する反応はあまりよくない。ある学生は不満をもらしている。彼女は３年生になるまで車が使えないけれども、実験のため大学に遅くまで残らなくてはならず、暗闇の中をひとりで歩いて帰宅しなくてはならず、まったく喜べない言う。