Jason Cormier wrote:
> On 4/5/05 10:27, in article
> 1112711228.984431.281050@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com,
> "declan_murphy@hotmail.com" <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I'm still a bit ambivalent about the whole thing though. An Expo
based
> > on an environment theme built by bulldozing a large portion of one
of
> > the largest remaining verdant forests close to Nagoya? Browbeating
less
> > developed countries into "participating" by not so subtle ties of
their
> > ODA allocations? The airport and the wonderful new highways in
Aichi
> > are great - I really love the isewangan and the new shortcut for
Nagano
> > but surely they could have been built without the excuse provided
by
> > the banpaku.
>
> I know about the new line from Fujigaoka to the Expo site; the new
highway
> access to the airport and the Meitetsu connection; and the ferry
service
> from Mie to the airport. What other transportation changes/additions
have
> been made since I left four years ago?

For motorheads, probably the biggest change is the ongoing rollout of
the Tokai Loop highway and Nagoya Loop #2. Seriously good roads. The
southern part of that is the Isewangan - a particularly good drive.
Can't wait for Tomei 2 to open. Route 4 between Tokai IC and the Nagoya
loop looks pretty convenient, but I haven't needed to use it yet.

For the trainbuffs, completion of the Meijo line (the purple one) loop
to include Yagoto Nisseki, Yagoto, Sogo Rehabilitation Centre and
Mizuhoundojo Higashi. It is about time that Nagoya had a good loop
train - saves a lot of time when changing lines. Then you have the
Aonami line (dark blue) which links Nagoya station down south past
Royal Nagoya Racetrack and the west side of the Port of Nagoya down to
Kinjo-futo. The other part of the Meijo mine has been renamed to
Meikou-sen (the Port of Nagoya connection), the line is the same, it is
just the port that is really changing - though I'm not sure if "Little
Italy" was a good idea.

Nagoya station area is changing with Toyota rebuilding just across the
road from the twin towers. This has temporarily wiped out some of the
underground shopping while they dig the foundations for the new tower.
The running joke at the moment is not to eat anywhere near meieki
unless at least 10 floors up - as every self respecting rat has moved
from the construction site.

Ferries - remember that the only ferry to the airport is from Tsu and
you can't drive your car onto the boat. The other ferries land at the
vehicular wharf opposite the airport at Tokoname. When I asked why, the
reason given was so that people driving onto the ferry wouldn't have to
pay the bridge toll. Fair enough in a way, but then they could have
always reimbursed any driver boarding the ferry.

I think thats about it.