Construction of Tsukiji Fish Market's Replacement Begins

Above, a worker preparing his goods for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that the Tokyo Metropolitan government has hauled away the toxic soil from the location of the new wholesale fish market site as construction began Friday.

According to Kyodo News:

Construction work of a new fish and greengrocery wholesale market to replace the aging Tsukiji market started Friday in the capital's Toyosu area, with completion expected by March 2016. 

The new market will accommodate the functions of the market at Tsukiji that opened in 1935 and is known as one of the biggest fish markets in the world in terms of transactions. 

Consortiums of major local contractors will build four buildings at the new market for a total of 110.3 billion yen. 

In addition to the construction cost, the Tokyo metropolitan government spent 76.2 billion yen on removing contaminated soil at the site, which formerly housed a plant for gas production.

 This means that if you want to visit the historic Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo, you have two more years to do so.