Design of the Higashi-Kobe Bridge, Japan

The Higashi-Kobe Bridge is an important link in the Osaka Bay Route. The bridge is a double-decked three-span cable-stayed structure 885 m long. Each deck carries three lanes of traffic. The center span of 485 m makes the Higashi-Kobe Bridge one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world. Earthquake- and wind-resistance were carefully considered in the design of the main girder, its suspension and the tower frames. Situated at the gateway to the port of Kobe, aesthetic considerations played an important role in the selection of the bridge configuration.