Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge
Encyclopedia
The , which connects the island of Ōshima
to the main part of Shikoku
, is the world's longest suspension bridge
structure and was completed in 1999. The bridge is part of the Shimanami Kaidō, an expressway
that spans a series of islands and connects Hiroshima Prefecture
in Honshū to Ehime Prefecture
in Shikoku. The bridge and the expressway were both conceived by the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project
.
, main span 600 metres (1,969 ft), ranks 47th largest two tower suspension bridge, main span 1020 metres (3,346 ft), ranks 16th largest, main span 1030 metres (3,379 ft), ranks 15th largest
Oshima, Ehime
is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that lies between the larger islands of Honshū and Shikoku in Japan. It is part of Ehime Prefecture and is governed by the city of Imabari....
to the main part of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
, is the world's longest suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
structure and was completed in 1999. The bridge is part of the Shimanami Kaidō, an expressway
Controlled-access highway
A controlled-access highway is a highway designed exclusively for high-speed vehicular traffic, with all traffic flow and ingress/egress regulated...
that spans a series of islands and connects Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
in Honshū to Ehime Prefecture
Ehime Prefecture
is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
in Shikoku. The bridge and the expressway were both conceived by the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project
Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project
The Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project is a system of bridges connecting the islands of Honshū and Shikoku across the Inland Sea of Japan, which were previously only connected by ferry. It consists of three major connections. All bridges are now controlled by the and the...
.
Construction
The Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge consists of three successive suspension bridges with six towers and four anchorages. There is a shared anchorage that joins each suspension bridge to the next. Its construction is similar to the western portion of San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge which is two successive suspension bridges with four towers and one shared anchorage. The bridge's total length of 4015 metres (13,173 ft), is just a little longer than the total length of the two tower Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge, which is 3911 metres (12,831 ft)., main span 600 metres (1,969 ft), ranks 47th largest two tower suspension bridge, main span 1020 metres (3,346 ft), ranks 16th largest, main span 1030 metres (3,379 ft), ranks 15th largest