INFRASTRUCTURES * Japan - Government Restore Transportation Systems

Transport minister says most railways, roads, airports, ports usable

Tokyo,Hapan -The Journal of Commerce Online (USA), by Hisane Masaki -Mar 29, 2011: -- Restoration work on Japanese transportation systems devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern part of the country has made significant progress, a transport minister said on Tuesday... The damage to transport infrastructure as well as fuel shortages and fears of a serious nuclear disaster involving one of Tokyo Electric Power's nuclear plants have hampered relief and recovery efforts in the worst-hit areas... On March 23, the government released estimates of the March 11 twin natural disasters' economic impacts, which show that the destruction of transportation infrastructure as well as housing and corporate facilities in seven prefectures will cost between $200 billion and $300 billion...