碓氷橋

The Usui Bridge is a highway bridge in Annaka that crosses a valley with a distinctive inverted Y-shaped tower rising prominently above the landscape. The structure spans multiple transportation routes and waterways while connecting different regions together.

The bridge was built in the early 1990s as part of a major infrastructure project to better connect two prefectures. This structure was an important step in modernizing regional transportation routes through this mountainous region.

The structure passes over the former Shin-etsu Main Line railway tracks, National Route 18, and the Kirizumi and Usui rivers.

The bridge is accessible via well-developed roads and allows continuous traffic flow for cars and trucks. Visitors can view the structure from several vantage points, particularly from the approach roads in the surrounding area.

The pylon shape was specifically designed to mirror the alignment and profile of the railway line passing beneath it. This design choice was an engineering solution that also improved the visual integration with the mountainous surroundings.