Mizugasaki Bridge

Mizugasaki Bridge
水ヶ崎大橋
Takachiho, Miyazaki, Japan
(262) feet high / (80) meters high
525 foot span / 160 meter span
2004

Mizugasaki Bridge is a large, 2-lane asymmetrical concrete arch bridge in the Takachiho Gorge region of Miyazaki Prefecture. The span to rise ratio of 7.4 is unusually high making for an arch rib with greater compressive forces than a normal arch bridge. Approximately 75% of the arch was initially built with a steel truss core using highlines and stay cables.

There is no other region in Japan that has as many high bridges than the Takachiho Gorge Scenic Area of Miyazaki Prefecture. Within a distance of just 30 kilometers the Gokase and Iwato River canyons are crossed by no less than 15 high bridges.

Several of these spectacular crossings were the highest in Japan including Tensho, Seiun and Unkai Bridges. The Takachiho Railway Bridge is still the highest railway crossing in Japan even if it not longer operates with regular trains.

Mizugasaki Bridge satellite image.

Mizugasaki Bridge location map.