The dramatic picture of gaping chasms in the Joban Expressway portion of the Great Kanto Highway connecting Mito and Naka dramatically show the power of the March 11 earthquake. A NEXCO (Nippon Expressway Company) East employee inspects the damage just hours after the quake. 
The Joban Expressway is 4-lanes with tree-lined median separating north-south pairs. The most damaged is a section of the north bound lanes (above). Work began only a few days after the March 11th quake and after the jump see the significant progress made….
in the photo below taken on the 15th. Three lanes are visible in this photo with the damaged 4th lane filled-in and being prepped for a road surface.
On March 23rd the heavily damaged section was looking as good as new and open to all traffic on the 24th. Now the astonishing speed of reconstruction is being used to highlight the nation’s ability to get back on its feet. 
Note that the Joban Expressway is a toll road and privately own after the 2005 privatization of the Japan National Expressways. Closures due to damage from the earthquake and loss of revenues were strong incentives for NEXCO to repair and re-open any damaged roads they own as soon as possible. The NEXCO website (translated) has updated releases on road repairs and traffic conditions.
