Photo/Illutration Only Olympic-related vehicles can use roads with “dedicated lane” signs, starting on July 19. (Kazuhiro Nagashima)

Just four days before the opening of the Olympics, large-scale traffic restrictions started in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area to smoothly transport athletes and officials for the Games.

“Measures similar to those taken last year are necessary as traffic volume has returned to around 95 percent of pre-pandemic levels,” said an official of the Olympic organizing committee.

During the restrictions, which began on July 19, two kinds of lanes are installed on 11 sections of roads near Games’ venues in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture.

Only vehicles with stickers showing that they are connected to the Olympics can use roads with “dedicated lane” signs, while ordinary motorists are required to give way to vehicles with the stickers on roads with “priority lane” signs.

Traffic violators will receive one penalty point and a 6,000 yen ($55) fine for regular vehicles.

Another measure taken during the traffic restrictions is a “road pricing” system that adjusts tolls depending on the time of day.

Regular tolls for standard-sized cars and motorcycles on the Metropolitan Expressway in the Tokyo area between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. increase by 1,000 yen, while the existing expressway toll between midnight and 4 a.m. is halved under the system.

The new tolls will continue until Aug. 9, the day after the Closing Ceremony, and will also be in effect during the Paralympics from Aug. 24 to Sept. 5.

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