Core77

Highly Impressive Snow-Clearing: Japan's Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route

By Rain Noe - February 8, 2013

in Object Culture

Here in the American northeast we've got a bit of a storm on, with six to twelve inches of snow projected to fall on Core77 HQ. That sounds like a lot of snow, until you put it in perspective by looking at the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, which connects the Japanese municipalities of Tateyama and Omachi.

How on Earth do they manage to clear that road, and get the sidewalls so freaking straight? As you'll see in the video below—which seems it was produced in the '80s—they use a combination of snowblowing vehicles and a backhoe to "sculpt" the walls.

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Steve Spoerre

11 years ago

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Snow blowers like the one shown in the video have been produced in the US for over 90 years. My Uncle Ed retired from the Snogo division of Klauer Manufacturing Co. 28 years ago.
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Adam

11 years ago

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Does anyone else have Frappe Snowland come to mind?
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