Essay Sample about The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge

The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge connects the city of Kobe with Iwaya on Awaji Island over the Akashi Strait. The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, otherwise known as the Pearl Bridge, is the world's longest and tallest suspension bridge, with a total length of 3911 metres and a height of 283 metres. The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge was constructed across one of the world's most dangerous straits. As a result, the bridge had to be constructed with utmost caution to guarantee that it could withstand severe weather conditions and earthquakes. Even though it is already the world's longest and tallest suspension bridge, it is also holding the record of being the world's most expensive suspension bridge, costing around 500 billion yen (AU$6.2 billion). 

The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge began its construction in 1988 and was completed in 1998. Satoshi Kashima designed the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which was built by Matsuo Bridge Co.  Until the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was built, people and cargo were transported over the Akashi Strait by ferries. Strong winds, severe rains, storms, and natural disasters were also common. The loss of the Sekirei Maru sinking in 1945 killed 304 people and triggered a public debate on whether a bridge could be built across the span. A few years later, in the Shiun Maru disaster of 1955, two ferries had sunk into the strait, killing 168 passengers. The Japanese government had finally decided to design ideas for a bridge to traverse the strait to avert similar tragedies. As a result, the Akashi-Kaikyo Structure was designed.

The Bridge was constructed in the face of adversity, including strong wind currents, tidal depths, and even earthquakes. Two underwater main piers and two land anchorages make up the bridge's four substructures. A total of approximately 350,000 tonnes of concrete is required in each anchorage.  It includes three spans: a central span of 1991 metres and two smaller spans of 960 metres each. The bridge's initial design intended for a central span of 1990 metres, but before the deck could be built, the Kobe earthquake struck on January 17, 1995, with its epicentre between the two towers of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge. Fortunately, after several investigations, it was determined that the bridge had sustained very little damage; nonetheless, the earthquake caused the span lengths to grow slightly, from 1990 metres to 1991 metres.  Steel and reinforced concrete are the main material used in the superstructure. The bridge was built with a dual-hinged stiffening girder system, with a steel truss supporting the roadway and deck, allowing it to withstand winds of 178 miles per hour earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 on the Richter scale. Steel cables utilised in the bridge have a length of up to 300,000 kilometres, a diameter of 112 metres, and 36,830 strands of wire. 

On the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, there are 1737 light accessories. At night, the RBG lights of the bridge shine 28 basic patterns and 3 special patterns of various colours of light across the whole bridge. For important occasions in Japan, such as national or regional holidays, memorial days, or festivals, numerous patterns are performed. The bridge's lights reminded the residents of Kobe and Awaji of dazzling pearls on a necklace. The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge got the name, Pearl Bridge from the stunning vistas of the bridge at night. The grey-green paint used on the bridge was chosen not just because it is a common road colour, but it also complements the cityscape by emphasizing the colours of the sea and sky strait. The bridge was covered with fluoropolymer paint, which is extremely resistant to solvents, acids, and bases, which erode the bridge, to decrease maintenance requirements. 

The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge continues to hold the record for being the world's longest, tallest, and most expensive suspension bridge. This Bridge was designed mainly for transport purposes. With that being said, it is now much more than just a highway for transport. Not long after the bridge was built, it quickly became a major tourist destination, with several memorial halls, notable sculptures, exhibition centres, and parks on the Kobe city side, and many restaurants and stores on the Awaji side. If you're curious about this world-record-holding bridge, why not visit it and witness for yourself how magnificent it is?