Sangen Bridge, Railway bridge at Shuparo Lake, Japan
Sangen Bridge spans 381 meters across Shuparo Lake with a triangular truss design featuring one upper chord and two lower chords across seven sections. The structure demonstrates this specific construction method clearly.
Built in 1958 as replacement for a submerged railway line, it operated for only six years before the shift to truck transportation in 1963. The short operational period makes it a rare example of abandoned railway infrastructure.
The bridge structure became a symbol of the region and appears on local post office stamps, reflecting post-war engineering pride. The construction shows how such structures became part of local identity.
During low water periods at Shuparo Lake, the upper chord emerges from the surface, providing a clear view of the structural elements. This is the best time to observe the bridge in its entirety.
Its triangular cross-section design makes it one of few such railway structures worldwide, with a similar example only in Düren, Germany. This engineering approach was cost-effective and practical for the time.
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