When Route 57 - the main route between the city and Aso through the Tateno Gap - went bye-bye during the quakes, engineers quickly determined that its restoration was infeasible. So they started to dig - a lot. We’re talking 600,000 cubic meters of excavation. And Friday, the twin Futaenotouge Tunnels (二重峠トンネル) were declared complete. The new route is scheduled to open next year after roadwork and bridge construction is complete. Coincidentally, it will connect Ozu Machi and Aso Kurumagaeri (阿蘇市車帰) - the latter meaning “vehicle return.” - William https://this.kiji.is/471904585490531425?c=92619697908483575