Aso Bridge, Arch bridge in Minamiaso, Japan
Aso Bridge is a steel arch in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, spanning a deep canyon between the villages of Tateno and Kawayo. The construction rests on tall piers and allows traffic to cross the rugged terrain below.
The first structure at this site was built in 1971 and collapsed during the Kumamoto earthquake in 2016. A new crossing was completed roughly 600 meters downstream and opened to traffic in 2021.
The steel structure earned its local nickname from its original orange paint. This color later changed to gray to better suit the surrounding mountains and valleys.
A pedestrian walkway runs alongside the roadway and allows visitors to look down into the canyon below. Those wishing to see the earlier structure can reach its remains a short distance upstream.
Sections of the collapsed structure remain as a memorial and remind visitors of the force of the 2016 earthquake. People can see the twisted and broken sections that were left in place after the collapse.
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