The 1st PFI(Private Finance Initiative) road project will be launched in Japan next year. Recently, the 1st PFI(Private Finance Initiative) road project has been reviewed by Japanese Ministry of Construction(JMC). This road section is the new 9km extension of the existing Osaka ring road(L=60km). Japanese PFI association which is composed of 35 member companies in different private sector will submit their idea on how to proceed with this 1st toll road to JMC by Feb. 2007. According to the association, this 9km extension section will be 1km elevated, 3km excavated road and 5km shield tunnel (underground), and expects 40,000 vehicle traffic per day, and expected project capital is 320 billion yen. This will be the 1st toll road in Japan, and JMC will be investigating other toll roads with the association soon.

(source: Daily Construction News of Japan)