Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (明石海峡大橋; Akashi-Kaiyō Ōhashi) is an enormous suspension bridge across the Akashi Strait (Akashi-Kaiyō) linking Maiko in Kobe and Matsuho, on Awaji Island as part of the Honshu-Shikoku Highway. It has the longest central section of any suspension bridge in the world.
The original plan was for a mixed railway-road bridge but when the bridge was begun in April 1986 it was restricted to road only, with six lanes. Actual construction did not begin until May 1988 and the bridge was opened for traffic on April 5, 1998. The Akashi Strait is an international waterway and required a 1500 metre wide lane.
The bridge has three spans. The central span is 1991 metres, with the two other sections each 960 metres and the bridge is 3911 metres overall. The central span was originally only 1990 metres but was stretched by a further metre following the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995.
The total cost is estimated at Yen 500,000,000,000.
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Illumination
The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge sports a total of 1737 illumination lights, 1,084 for the main cables, 116 for the main towers, 405 for the girders, and for 132 the anchorages. On the main cables three high light discharged tubes are mounted in the colors red, green, and blue. The RGB model and computer technology make for a variety of combinations, currently 28 patterns are used for such occasions as national or regional holidays, memorial days or festivities.
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