Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

engineering · Japan · bridges

Connects two islands. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge links Kobe city on Honshu island to Awaji Island in Japan, letting people cross the busy Akashi Strait without taking a boat.

Record-breaking length. When it was finished in 1998, its main span stretched 1,991 metres (6,532 feet) across the water, making it the longest suspension bridge span in the entire world at that time.

Built in tough conditions. The bridge had to handle rough, turbulent waters in the Akashi Strait and strong storms, so engineers designed it to be incredibly strong and stable.

Part of a highway. The bridge is part of the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, which means cars and trucks drive across it every day to connect different parts of Japan.

Still impressive today. Even though a bridge in Turkey opened in 2022 with an even longer span, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge remains the second-longest suspension bridge span in the world.