Gokō Bridge, Road bridge in Yawata, Japan.
Gokō Bridge crosses the Kizu-gawa River for about 356 meters and connects Kumiyama-cho district with Yawata City. It is made of eight separate wooden sections held together by metal cables.
The bridge was completed in 1953 and replaced an earlier ferry service that transported people between the two riverbanks. Its innovative design with floating sections was a practical response to the river's frequent flooding.
The bridge carries the name Nagare-bashi, which reflects its unique design that adapts to the river's behavior. Local residents take pride in this solution that prevents damage and has kept it functional for decades.
The individual sections can drift away during flooding and later return to their position without the structure sustaining damage. This allows it to function as a permanent crossing even though the river regularly swells.
The structure earned the name Nagare-bashi, meaning "flowing bridge", which refers to its ability to drift during floods. This unusual feature was intentionally designed to avoid flood damage rather than resist it.
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