Katsushika Harp Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge in Katsushika district, Japan.
Katsushika Harp Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Ayase River in the Katsushika ward of Tokyo, supported by two towers of different heights. The roadway follows a curved S-shape, held in place by 48 steel cables fanning out from the towers.
The bridge opened on September 9, 1987 and was at the time the first curved cable-stayed bridge ever built. It was constructed as part of the expansion of Tokyo's Central Circular Route.
The name comes from a public competition and refers to the harp, because the steel cables resemble the strings of the instrument. This connection becomes clear as soon as you see the fan-shaped cables from the pedestrian walkway.
The bridge has four lanes for vehicles and a walkway on each side, both freely accessible to pedestrians. It connects surrounding neighborhoods in a straightforward way and can be reached on foot or by bicycle from nearby streets.
30 lighting poles are installed on the bridge's towers and illuminate the cable pattern after dark, casting reflections on the water below. From the pedestrian walkway, you can see the exact point where the Ayase River meets another waterway.
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