Additional soil contamination countermeasures get underway at Toyosu market site

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government on Dec. 18 commenced additional measures to counter soil contamination at the Toyosu market site built as a replacement for the capital's Tsukiji market.

The measures, decided upon by an expert panel, are expected to be completed, along with a final check by the panel, by around the end of July next year.

On Dec. 18, workers started laying down 10 centimeters of concrete on the floor of a space under the fruit and vegetable section of the market. Concrete was poured in from above the ground level, and workers flattened it out. This work is expected to be completed by the end of the year, after which another 15-centimeter layer of concrete specially processed to avoid cracking will be laid down.

Bidding for the additional measures to counter soil contamination has been lackluster, with no successful bid for one of nine projects. The metropolitan government plans to arrange a negotiated bid for this contract possibly before the end of the year.