Saitama road affected by sinkhole partially restored
A section of a road in Saitama Prefecture that had been closed following the formation of a sinkhole due to a damaged sewer pipe in January 2025 was partially reopened to traffic Wednesday.According to the prefectural government, more time will be needed to complete the restoration of the collapsed site in the city of Yashio. It is uncertain when the prefectural road section will fully see a return of traffic.At the site, a six-way intersection, about 600 meters from east to west on four lanes were fully closed in the wake of the sinkhole incident, which left a truck driver dead. The prefectural government built a makeshift bridge across the caved area using two lanes on the south side, creating two temporary lanes."It's a big step. I'm happy," said neary resident Fumie Kinoshita, 56.Still, she said that traffic was heavy on the prefectural road even before the accident."Traffic jams may be inevitable with only two lanes," Kinoshita said, adding her concerns about the temporary bridge, such as shaking when large vehicles cross it.On Jan. 28, 2025, the central part of the intersection caved in, causing a passing truck to fall in the hole. The driver's cabin was left in a sewer pipe, and the body of the 74-year-old male driver was recovered about three months later.In February this year, the prefectural government's investigation committee compiled a final report saying that the sinkhole was created due to the corrosion of a sewer pipe caused by hydrogen sulfide.
