News Japan to step up efforts to shift power lines underground

In areas where putting power lines underground is challenging due to reasons such as roads being narrow, the ministry plans to utilize roadside drains, the sources said. This approach is expected to reduce costs and shorten construction times. Laying power lines underground is estimated to cost around ¥500 million ($3.4 million) per kilometer of road, according to the sources. Emergency transport routes, designated by prefectural governments under the basic law on disaster management, are designed for use to ensure a smooth transportation option for people needing emergency medical care and relief goods in times of disasters. The construction of new utility poles along such roads is banned as fallen poles could obstruct emergency vehicle traffic.

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