Hitsuishijima Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge in Seto Inland Sea, Japan
Hitsuishijima Bridge is a cable-stayed structure crossing the Seto Inland Sea with two separate traffic decks. The upper level carries vehicles while trains operate on the lower level, allowing two forms of transportation to function side by side.
The bridge was built during the 1970s in response to recurring ferry accidents on this route. It provided the first reliable overland crossing, replacing dangerous water-based transportation that had caused loss of life.
The bridge links two distinct regions, making it easier for people to move between Okayama and Kagawa for work and daily life. Communities on either side have maintained their own traditions while increasingly sharing influences through this constant flow of connection.
Visitors can cross the bridge by car on the Seto-Chuo Expressway, though a toll applies. Walking is not permitted, but several viewpoints nearby offer good views of the structure from a distance.
This was one of Japan's first attempts to successfully combine two entirely different transportation modes on a single structure. The design approach proved so effective that it became a template for similar projects elsewhere in the country.
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