Shin-Karato Bridge in Kobe, Japan

The Hanshin Expressway Kita-Kobe Route links the Dai-ni Shinmei and Chugoku Expressways, and has a total length of 35.6 km. The Shin-Karato Bridge is part of this route, located in the Karato area behind Mount Rokko, Kobe. The bridge is a twin structure: one structure carries the eastbound roadway, and the other westbound. The bridge has been erected in an unstable landslide area, and is curved along the steep slope. The adopted bridge structure, with low girders, was chosen in order to avoid the need to dig into the slope. After much consultation, an extradosed bridge structure, whose characteristics are midway between those of a cable-stayed bridge and those of a massive box-girder bridge, was selected. Extradosed bridges are excellent structures from economic and construction points of view.