Effect of the Southern Hyogo Earthquake on the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge

The Southern Hyogo Earthquake that struck near Kobe, Japan at 5:46 in the morning of January 17, 1995, had a magnitude of 7.2 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was very close to the construction site of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, a long span bridge with center span length of 1,990 m. The earthquake caused considerable damage in Kobe and vicinity. When the earthquake occurred, the erection of the towers of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which are about 300 m tall, was completed, all the cable strands were placed and cable squeezing work was in progress. This paper outlines the earthquake and its effect on the bridge as determined by the first phase of investigation. A more detailed investigation is in progress.