Key Facts
• NEXCO East Japan to host ‘Highway Kids Exploration Team 2025’ on August 5.
• Event location: Kitano Maki construction site, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.
• Participants: 4th–6th graders paired with adults aged 18+.
• Two sessions: Morning (9:30 AM) and afternoon (2:00 PM).
• Capacity: 28 pairs per session, total 56 participants.
• Participation is free; travel costs to meeting point are self-funded.
• Meeting point: JR Yokokawa Station, Usui Pass Railway Culture Village parking lot.
• Duration: 3–4 hours, with transport via chartered bus provided by organizers.
• Construction site: Kitano Maki Tunnel, part of a large-scale rockfall prevention project.
• Excavation involves removing 95,000 cubic meters of rock, 70 meters high, with a 70-degree slope.
• Activities include riding construction monorails, viewing heavy machinery, and excavation sites.
• Registration via NEXCO East Japan’s website; deadline: July 16, 5:30 PM.
• Selection by lottery if oversubscribed; results announced by July 25.
• Event aligns with SDGs goals 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Summary
NEXCO East Japan will host the ‘Highway Kids Exploration Team 2025’ event on August 5 at the Kitano Maki construction site in Gunma Prefecture. This educational event invites 4th–6th graders paired with adults to explore a large-scale rockfall prevention project above the Joshinetsu Expressway. Participants will experience unique activities such as riding construction monorails and viewing heavy machinery. The event is free, but participants must cover their travel costs to the meeting point. Registration is open until July 16, with a lottery system determining participants if oversubscribed. This initiative supports SDGs goals 4 and 17, promoting education and partnerships.
