Great Seto Bridge

The Great Seto Bridge (Japanese: ????, also known as the Seto-Ohashi Bridge or the Seto-Chuo Expressway) is a series of double deck bridges connecting Okayama and Kagawa prefectures in Japan across a series of five small islands in the Seto inland sea. Built over the period 1978 - 1988, it is one of the three routes of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project connecting Honshu and Shikokuislands. At 13.1 km long, it ranks as the world's longest two-tiered bridge system.

History

The bridge's history dates back to 1889 when a member of the Prefectural Parliament Okubo Jinnojo ??????? (1849-1891) suggested the idea of a Seto Ohashi Bridge.

Related Topics:
1889 - Okubo Jinnojo - 1849 - 1891

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Okubo Jinnojo was born in a remote village of West Sanuki. At 23, Jinnojo became a village official. He said: "The 4 provinces of Shikoku are like so many remote islands. If united by roads, they will be much better off, enjoying the benefits of increased transportation and easier communication with each other." He envisioned and worked on several major road projects. He aired his idea for the Bridge in a speech made at the opening ceremony of the first railway in Shikoku between Marugame and Kotohira. While it took a century for his vision to become a reality, another of his ideas, mentioned in a drinking song he composed, was accomplished twenty years sooner:

Related Topics:
Sanuki - Railway - Marugame - Kotohira

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:I'll tell you, dear, don't laugh at me,

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:a hundred years from now, I'll be seeing you

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:flying to and from the moon in a space ship.

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:Its port, let me tell you, dear,

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:will be that mountaintop over there!

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The bridge idea lay dormant for about sixty years. In 1955, after 171 lives were lost when a ferry wrecked in dense fog off Takamatsu, a safer crossing was deemed necessary. By 1959 meetings were held to promote building the bridge. Scientists began investigations shortly after, and in 1970 the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Construction Authority was inaugurated. Work was postponed by the "oil shock" of 1973. In 1978 the Environment Assessment Report was published and construction got underway. The project took ten years to complete at a cost of $7 billion. 2,000 construction companies and about 13 million workers were employed. Although nets, ropes and other safety measures were employed, the lives of 13 workers were lost during the 10 years of construction. The bridge opened for traffic on April 10, 1988.

Related Topics:
1955 - Takamatsu - 1959 - 1970 - Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Construction Authority - 1973 - 1978 - April 10 - 1988

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