Akashi Kaikyō Bridge

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
View of Akashi Kaikyō Bridge From the Air
Photo by: wikipedia, Creative Commons

Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, also called “Pearl Bridge”, is located in Japan and considered as Japan’s finest engineering feat. Akashi Kaikyō Bridge is the world’s longest suspension bridge in the world with a length of 3911 meters (12,831 ft). The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge serves as a link between the city of Kobe and Iwaya by crossing the Akashi strait. The construction was finished in a span of 12 years which actually begin in the year 1986 and completed in the year 1998. The bridge plays an important role in providing three routes across the inland sea.

Architecture

The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge applies some of the best architectural design and technology across the three spans. The Akashi Kaikyō Suspension Bridge has been designed to withstand earthquakes and harsh sea conditions. The Kobe earthquake in January 17, 1995 is an example of the bridge’s strength.

History

Before the construction of the bridge, boats and ships (ferries) were used to carry passengers and vehicles across the Akashi strait. The Akashi strait is an international waterway approximately 1500 meters wide and serves as a shipping lane. The Akashi strait waterway was a dangerous waterway prior to the construction of the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge. In 1955, a severe storm came upon the area, in which two ferries sunk, resulting in the death of 168 people. As a result, the Japanese government developed a suspension bridge to cross the strait. Originally, the plan was to construct a railway along with a road bridge. But the construction was restricted to a road bridge consisting of 6 lanes.

Tourism

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge has become a tourist attraction in Japan. Two amazing parks have been built near the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. The two parks are named Maiko and Asagiri. The view of the bridge from the park is an absolutely magnificent sight. Both parks can be reached using the coastal train line.

Pictures & Photos

49 responses to “Akashi Kaikyō Bridge”

  1. nathan says:

    this bridge is gonna be blown up on the 23 of july 2014 :@

  2. cheese says:

    how wide

  3. vellen says:

    Why is that? is there terrorist attackers?

  4. bum says:

    ov course threre is lol

  5. peter markson says:

    why on earth would anybody want to blow up such a magnificent bridge?

  6. mikala says:

    why is it the worlds longest bridge and there is a bridge just like it

  7. cinderella says:

    omg cool bridge

  8. your mom says:

    Actually pretty neat bridge

  9. Mark Siddall says:

    this bridge is poo compared to our bridge follow this link to see it

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Jubilee_Bridge

    we are even on the cheese advert! LOL

    runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan runcorn is better than japan lol…

  10. Nuriko says:

    <3 Nice man !

  11. blahh says:

    what body of water is under the bridge!?!

  12. Bridge Inspector says:

    Not Bad! Good Construction

  13. Mandan says:

    This bridge is so huge! And it sucks to do math work aboout it!

  14. Pauly-D says:

    this is a very magnificent bridge but i would like more information like when and why was it built, who built and designed it, or why is it famous, how long did it take to build how much weight can it hold just little things like that would educate people and help me on my homework!!! 🙂

  15. Pauly-D says:

    I love this bridge ….. why is it going to be blown up ??? :/

  16. Paula says:

    AWSOME!!!!!! <3 🙂

  17. Emily says:

    why is this bridge gonna be blown up????!?

  18. Rosie says:

    This bridge is very interesting however I need to find a website that shows all the measurements inc. how high the towers are! Damn assignments. But such a beautiful bridge anyway…

  19. miguel c ortiz says:

    to pauly d, the akashi kaikyo bridge is the worlds longest suspension bridge in the world, it holds three world records, the highest at 280 meters above sea level, the foundations are 70 meters deep into the sea, the central span is 1911 meters long, it was originally 1910 meters, but then the kobe earthquake in 1995 extended the distance between the two towers one meter, so the bridge had to be redesigned ending up in 1911 meters at the center, it was built because in 1955 two ferries carrying 168 children collided with another ferry and sank killing all 168 children and adults, the goverment the started planning for the bridge , and after 30 years of investigating new technologies construction began in 1988 and the bridge was finished in 1998,the bridge was designed by the honshu shikoku bridge authority, and this bridge authorrity was created by mokoto kitagagwa with the mission of building the impossible, the bridge used 181 thousand tonnes of steel, and one million four hundred thousand cubic meters of concrete in addition to specially designed roadway that can withstand winds of up to 290 km per hour. pretty amazing uh?. good luck!!!

  20. miguel c ortiz says:

    to pauly d, you can also check the documentary about this bridge at discovery channel or youtube , under big bigger biggest bridge. good luck!!!!

  21. Jack says:

    how much did it cost to build

  22. Jack Magnani says:

    this is so kool

  23. Evangelyn31 says:

    WOW. !! THIS is really awesome. !!

  24. NDAYISHIMIYE Rosine says:

    God is powerful, he who provided this kind of knowledge.
    It’s all above imagination.
    May His name be exalted forever through Jesus!
    May God bless everyone who contributed to this amazing work!
    I would like to emulate too!!!!!!!!!

  25. crystal says:

    this is a fantastic bridge

  26. amy says:

    how high and how wide is it
    i need dimensions 4 my project

  27. Celina League says:

    Wow. Magnificent really!
    A reality work of art.. =D

  28. Nikoruu says:

    omg shuddup this bridge will not blow up… i dont kno much countries that hate japan, nor wud i think the counrty itself wud want to destruct one of its most important structures. sayonara

  29. The Super Nerd says:

    Godzilla is going to destroy this bridge.

  30. The Corrector says:

    You retards! Nikoruu is right! This bridge won’t be destroyed anytime soon. And how would you know that the bridge is going to be destroyed on the 23rd of July 2014? Are you in contact with these so called terrorists? I know you might be joking, but just in case, I will be watching this website.

  31. BuBbLeSANDDuCkS says:

    this is not awesome godzilla will eat it in the future cuz im awesome

  32. Javedkhan says:

    It is very big construction in the world.It is ideal to all engineers

  33. mano chandran says:

    what an art????
    hats off Japan

  34. lola123 says:

    im doing a report on this bridge for school 🙂

  35. abby says:

    the akashi kakyo bridge goes over the akashi strait its a river i think

  36. lolo says:

    no stupid its a strait

  37. This bridge is awesome!!!

  38. Junior says:

    That is the coolest bridge ever well kinda 🙂 >.<

  39. Ella says:

    The Mackinac Bridge is actually longer from pier to pier at 5 miles, but the suspended portion of the Mackinac is actually much smaller than the Pearl Bridge. Not to mention that it was built in 1953-1957 instead of in the eighties. The Mackinac bridge is much cooler, and is a bigger engineering feat, it was done with less technology, in less time, and probably for less money. The Mackinac is also the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Trust me, all who are impressed, read Miracle Bridge at Mackinac by David B. Stienman, the designer, and you will be thinking that the Mackinac is truely the best bridge in the world

  40. kshitu says:

    do the bridge fall down in earthquick? It is my question .It is not my jovial comment.

  41. kshitu says:

    why is bridge is attraction of turirost? What is special attraction of this bridge?

  42. kez says:

    How wide is the bridge (side-to-side)?

    Thank you

  43. John says:

    Can I walk over this bridge?

  44. Kayla says:

    Amazingly awesome 🙂

  45. nathan 2 says:

    nathan says:
    August 9, 2009 at 10:58 pm
    this bridge is gonna be blown up on the 23 of july 2014 :@

    20 more days until the blow up !!!

  46. Mimi says:

    I am doing a project on this bridge for my engineering class, this is such an incredible bridge. Wow!!! Go Japan 😀

  47. Marshall says:

    Lol i guess he was wrong cause its still there! rest easy people from the past. Oh and hi to all the people looking at this from Notre Dame… XD

  48. Darin says:

    nathan says:
    August 9, 2009 at 10:58 pm
    this bridge is gonna be blown up on the 23 of july 2014 :@

    You’re a little late buddy

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