25 years ago, the then longest suspension bridge was put into operation in Japan

Kobe/Prague - Twenty-five years ago, on April 5, 1998, the then longest suspension bridge in the world, the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, was opened in Japan, with a main span of 1991 meters. Each of its end spans is 960 meters long, making the total length of the bridge 3911 meters. Last March, it was surpassed by the Turkish Çanakkale Bridge across the Dardanelles Strait, which has a span between its pillars of 2023 meters.

The impressive bridge spans the Akashi Strait, which is heavily utilized by maritime traffic, and connects the cities of Kobe on the island of Honshu and Awaji on the island of the same name. It is solely a highway; the original plans included a railway line, which was ultimately abandoned. Its construction took ten years and cost 3.6 billion dollars.

It is designed to withstand winds of 285 kilometers per hour and earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 on the Richter scale. The grand opening was attended by about 1300 guests, including Crown Prince Naruhito and his wife, Princess Masako.

From April to November, visitors can learn about the history of the bridge's construction and can also visit one of the towers, which stands about 300 meters high.