寄居橋, Rigid frame bridge in Sakaiminato, Japan.
Kiyoi Bridge is a rigid frame bridge that spans Lake Nakaumi and connects Sakaiminato in Tottori Prefecture with Matsue in Shimane Prefecture. The structure measures roughly 1.7 kilometers in length and carries traffic across a roadway about 11 meters wide.
The bridge was constructed between 1997 and 2004 and replaced an older drawbridge that restricted traffic to vehicles under 14 tons. Its completion ended the frequent congestion caused by the predecessor structure's limited capacity.
The bridge features prominently in Japanese transportation infrastructure as the largest rigid frame bridge in Japan and third largest worldwide.
The bridge has a gradient of about 6 percent on the Shimane side and about 5 percent on the Tottori side, which should be noted during strong winds or wet conditions. Drivers should proceed slowly under these circumstances as the slopes affect vehicle handling.
The bridge rises about 45 meters above the water surface of the lake and spans roughly 250 meters at its longest section across the water. This design allows larger vessels to pass underneath the structure, which matters for local shipping activity on the lake.
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