Landscaping for Nagoya-Kobe Express way

Abstract

Landscape architecture for the expressway should pay much attention to landscape composition which harmoniously corresponds to the swiftly moving visions, because people move in a extremely high speed on the expressway, and the objects change from time to time. This technique of landscaping should be based on the psychology of driver.
The first expressway in Japan was inaugurated in September 1964 between Nagoya and kobe. The landscaping for this expressway has been instrumental in merging the enormous structures into the surrounding environment, as well as in increasing safety and amenity.
One of the most characteristic landscaping in the expressway is perhaps the planting of shrubs on the median strip. The row of plants can protect dviver's eyes from headlight glare. Roadside planting of trees was done to give an accent to the view, and to indicate a change of aligment of the way.
Each interchange has different kinds of trees depending on environmental conditions, and thus has a characteristic. Trees were also planted in groups so as not to be on obstacle to sight distance.