The world's steepest bridge was built in Japan

Located on the border of the Shimane and Tottori prefectures in Japan, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge, which crosses Lake Nakaumi, has recently been a hot topic on social media due to its appearance, which goes beyond conventional bridge architecture. This massive structure, which has surprised onlookers since the day it was completed, stands out not only for its height of approximately 45 meters but also for its surprisingly steep-looking incline. Although the incline, which causes an optical illusion, looks steeper in most photos than it actually is, it is mathematically measured at 6.1% on the Shimane side and 5.1% on the Tottori side.

Built between 1997 and 2004, the Eshima Ohashi has a total length of 1.7 kilometers and cost approximately 119 million pounds. The bridge significantly eases traffic between the cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato while offering a solid and safe crossing over Lake Nakaumi.

TRAFFIC EASED THANKS TO THE NEW BRIDGE

Eshima Ohashi took over the operations of the old drawbridge in the region and began serving a much larger vehicle capacity. Replacing the previous bridge, which could only serve 4,000 vehicles daily, the new structure now allows approximately 14,900 vehicles to pass through per day. Furthermore, the delays experienced on the old bridge during ship passages, which stopped traffic for up to eight minutes, have been completely eliminated.

The 14-ton weight limit on the old bridge was also removed with the new project to enable the passage of heavy-duty vehicles. Thus, the efficiency of transportation and logistics activities in the region has increased.

Another reason for the structure's iconic appearance is that photos taken with telephoto lenses make the bridge's incline look excessively steep. According to experts, this perspective distortion causes the bridge to look like it is climbing a mountain on social media.

Gaining great popularity in terms of tourism, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge is cited by the Japan National Tourism Organization as one of the most interesting bridge structures in the world. The bridge is open not only to vehicles but also to pedestrians and cyclists, and it provides facilities such as binoculars and telescopes for visitors to enjoy the view.

Authorities advise drivers to be careful against the risk of icing that may occur due to the bridge's incline, especially in the winter months. The region continues to be one of the must-see spots in Japan, both in terms of architecture and the natural beauty it is situated in.

News Source: 12punto