- Location: Wataricho, Sakaiminato, Tottori Prefecture 684-0072, Japan
- Overall length: 1 700 m
- Width: 11 m
- Longest span: 250 m
- Speed limit: 40 km / h
- Water object: Nakaumi
- Construction time: 1997-2004
In the north of the Japanese island of Honshu there is Lake Nakaumi, which serves as the natural boundary between the prefectures of Shimane and Tottori. It was over it that the bridge of Ashima Ohashi was built, which is the largest concrete bridge in Japan and the third largest in the world.
Construction of the bridge of Ashima Ohashi
Until October 2004, the transport connection between Tottori and Shimane was by ferry. Because of the large flow of cars (14 thousand per day), it was required to build a bridge that could withstand such traffic.
Thanks to seven years of work (1997-2004), Japan's contractors managed to build a two-lane Ashima Ohashi automobile bridge, capable of passing up to 14,905 cars daily.
Features of Ashima Ohashi Bridge
The main feature of this object is a strong rigid structure and an optimal height, thanks to which ships of almost any size can swim under it. Popularity in Japan and the world over the bridge of Eshima Ohashi acquired after the release of the commercial of the automobile company Daihatsu Motor Co. In it was shown minivan Tanto, which with ease was kept on a steep slope of the bridge. The solution lies in the special compression of the telephoto lens, which repeatedly exaggerated the height and slope of the air motorway. This was done in order to demonstrate the power and strength of this model of the car.
In fact, at the bridge of Eshim Ohashi in Japan, a comfortable angle of inclination is quite comfortable:
- on the side of the city of Matsue (Shimane) - 6.1%;
- on the side of the city of Sakaiminato (Tottori) - 5.1%.
This bias makes it easily overcome for any car. And although many tourists compare the trip on the bridge with the "roller coaster", in fact, this is an exaggeration. The absence of sharp turns and "dead" loops does not make this building less unique or less impressive. To assess the power, steepness or extravagant form of the bridge of Ashima Ohashi in Japan, one should look at it from the side.
How to get to Ashima Ohashi?
The largest concrete bridge in Japan is located on the island of Honshu, 585 km from the capital . To see with your own eyes this engineering masterpiece, you need to go to the cities of Tottori or Shimane. From Tokyo, five times a day, direct flights fly to Izumo airport , which is 30 km from the bridge.
From the capital of Japan to Ishim Ohashi can be reached by car. To do this, follow the motorway New Tomei Expressway or Central motorway. The journey takes almost 10 hours.