Kyushu Expressway fully reopens after Kumamoto Earthquake damage

The Kyushu Expressway has fully reopened to general traffic as of the morning of August 14, 2026. The final section to reopen was the stretch between the Matsubase Interchange in Kumamoto Prefecture and the Ebino Interchange in Miyazaki Prefecture, which had been closed due to damage to roads and bridges caused by the Kumamoto Earthquake.

NEXCO West Japan completed the necessary repairs and safety inspections to lift the closure. The full reopening of this major north-south artery is expected to improve the movement of people and goods, facilitate logistics, and alleviate traffic congestion in disaster-affected areas. Some sections may still operate under speed restrictions or face alternating traffic patterns.