Nov 9, 2014 - 1 min read

Inside Great Akashi Strait Bridge

Main structure and features of the Great Akashi Bridge

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Truss-structured bridge beams. The pathway is 47 meters high from the sea surface. Since it has a grating floor, you can see the water surface through it.

Model showing the construction of the two main pillars that support the suspension bridge

The large grab dredger drills as deep as 60 meters under sea where the supporting base stands

By using autonomous underwater vehicles to check the drilling process, they were able to proceed with the construction under difficult conditions.

There is a management and maintenance pathway just below the surface road of the bridge.

This black pipeline supplies drinking water to Awaji Island

This is the main pillar of the Great Akashi Strait Bridge. Inside, there is an elevator that carries you 300 meters up.

When you pass through this hatch, a great view awaits you!

I was nearing the top of the Great Akashi Strait Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world!

The construction of this bridge faced many challenges, like other large-scale constructions in the past. For instance, at the end of this narrow strait is Kobe Port, one of the biggest international ports in Japan, with regular traffic of 1,300 ships a day. This meant they had to fight big waves created by large ships constantly. Furthermore, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurred during construction, and created a few meters difference in measurements. Fortunately, they could overcome the difference by reinforcing the structural materials.

Hyogo Prefectural Maiko Park Series 1. Dream Lens 2. Inside Great Akashi Strait Bridge 3. The View from Great Akashi Bridge 4. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall 5. Akashi Sunset 6. Light-Up of Akashi Strait Bridge