Ōnaruto Bridge, Suspension bridge in Naruto, Japan
Ōnaruto Bridge is a steel suspension bridge connecting Awaji to Shikoku across a span of 1,629 meters with pylons rising 144 meters. Beneath the roadway runs a glazed pedestrian walkway named Uzunomichi, through which visitors look down onto the strait below.
Construction began in 1976 as part of a larger effort to connect the main Japanese islands and was completed in 1985. This completion enabled the first direct road link between Awaji and Shikoku across the strait.
The name refers to the Naruto Strait, known for its rotating waters, while the structure embodies the link between Awaji and Shikoku. Locals use the roadway for daily commuting, experiencing the shift between calm and turbulent waters beneath them.
Four traffic lanes run the entire length and carry roughly 18,600 vehicles each day. Pedestrians can enter the Uzunomichi walkway, where glass floors offer views down to the water below, especially worthwhile in clear weather.
The location above one of the world's strongest tidal currents creates visible whirlpools that can reach roughly 20 meters (66 feet) in diameter. Visitors watch these water movements through the glass floors of the pedestrian passage when tides shift.
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