Hakuchō Bridge, Suspension bridge in Muroran, Japan.
Hakuchō Bridge spans 1380 meters across Muroran Bay with white-painted steel towers rising 140 meters high. The structure carries vehicle traffic on four lanes as a cable-stayed suspension design.
Construction started in 1985 with extensive testing needed to ensure it could withstand cold and snowy conditions before it opened in 1998. The project solved the challenge of connecting communities across Muroran Bay reliably.
The bridge takes its name Hakuchō, meaning white bird in Japanese, inspired by how it appears to spread its wings across Muroran Bay. This connection between name and form is immediately visible when you cross it.
Strong winds in the area mean pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles cannot cross, making this route only for vehicles. Plan to travel by car if you need to use this bridge.
The structure uses fifteen precisely aligned tower sections that achieved only a 13-millimeter deviation during assembly. This remarkable accuracy reflects the engineering skill that went into building it.
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