Watarase Bridge, Truss bridge in Ashikaga, Japan
Watarase Bridge spans the river in Ashikaga, linking Tochigi and Gunma prefectures through a metal framework with visible diagonal bracing. The roadway runs straight between low railings, while the lattice girders rise on both sides and make the structure clearly visible from either bank.
The crossing opened in September 1934, after the need for a permanent span over the Watarase arose with growing traffic demands between the two regions. The steel design followed engineering models of the period and replaced earlier temporary passages along the same stretch.
The bridge functions as a central element in Ashikaga's infrastructure, connecting local communities and facilitating daily interactions between residents of different neighborhoods.
Traffic flows in both directions without signals, and pedestrians use narrow walkways along the outer edges when needed. The crossing offers open views upstream toward the mountains and downstream into the urban area of Ashikaga.
The crossing shares Regional Route 5 with the neighboring Naka and Midori spans, placing three parallel river crossings within a short distance. This arrangement reflects the importance of the link between the riverside areas in the local road network.
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