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Rainbow Bridge (Tokyo)
Encyclopedia
The is a suspension bridge
crossing northern Tokyo Bay
between Shibaura
Pier and the Odaiba
waterfront development in Minato, Tokyo
, Japan.
Construction started in 1987 and was completed in 1993. The bridge is 798 metres (2,618 ft) long with a main span of 580 metres (1,903 ft). Officially called the "Shuto Expressway
No. 11 Daiba Route
- Port of Tokyo
Connector Bridge," the name "'Rainbow Bridge" was decided by the public.
The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day.
The bridge can be accessed by foot from Tamachi Station
(JR East) or Shibaura-futō Station
(Yurikamome
) on the mainland side.
's Daiba Route
, while the lower deck carries the Yurikamome
rapid transit system in the centre, walkways on the outer side, and Tokyo Prefectural Route 482 in-between. Route 482 was formerly a tolled road, but opposition to the toll led to its removal. Bicycles and light motorcycles under 50cc are not permitted on either deck or the walkway of the bridge. Motorcycle pillion
passengers are also banned.
, while the south side offers views of Tokyo Bay and occasionally Mount Fuji
. The walkways may only be used during certain hours (9 am to 9 pm in the summer; 10 am to 6 pm in the winter).
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
crossing northern Tokyo Bay
Tokyo Bay
is a bay in the southern Kantō region of Japan. Its old name was .-Geography:Tokyo Bay is surrounded by the Bōsō Peninsula to the east and the Miura Peninsula to the west. In a narrow sense, Tokyo Bay is the area north of the straight line formed by the on the Miura Peninsula on one end and on...
between Shibaura
Shibaura
is a district of Minato ward located in Tokyo, Japan. The district is located between the eastern side of the Yamanote Line train and Tokyo Bay.Shibaura is the home to a number of major Japanese corporations including Toshiba and Oki...
Pier and the Odaiba
Odaiba
is a large artificial island in Tokyo Bay, Japan, across the Rainbow Bridge from central Tokyo. It was initially built for defensive purposes in the 1850s, dramatically expanded during the late 20th century as a seaport district, and has developed since the 1990s as a major commercial, residential...
waterfront development in Minato, Tokyo
Minato, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 1 March 2008, it had an official population of 217,335 and a population density of 10,865 persons per km². The total area is 20.34 km².Minato hosts 49 embassies...
, Japan.
Construction started in 1987 and was completed in 1993. The bridge is 798 metres (2,618 ft) long with a main span of 580 metres (1,903 ft). Officially called the "Shuto Expressway
Shuto Expressway
is a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
No. 11 Daiba Route
Route 11 (Shuto Expressway)
Route 11 is one of the routes of the Shuto Expressway system in the Tokyo area. Route 11 runs from Shibaura Junction in Minato-ku and runs for 3.9 km through Rainbow Bridge...
- Port of Tokyo
Port of Tokyo
Port of Tokyo is one of the largest Japanese seaports and one of the largest seaports in the Pacific Ocean basin having an annual traffic capacity of around 100 million tonnes of cargo and 4,500,000 TEU's....
Connector Bridge," the name "'Rainbow Bridge" was decided by the public.
The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day.
The bridge can be accessed by foot from Tamachi Station
Tamachi Station (Tokyo)
is a railway station in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.-History:The station opened on December 16, 1909 as an intermediate station on the newly opened Shinagawa-Karasumori section of the national railway.-Lines:...
(JR East) or Shibaura-futō Station
Shibaura-futo Station
Shibaura-futō Station is a train station in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The station opened on November 1, 1995.-Station Layout:The station consists of an elevated island platform. It's located below a highway.-Adjacent stations:...
(Yurikamome
Yurikamome
, formally the is an automated guideway transit service operated by the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Corporation, connecting Shimbashi to Toyosu, passing through the artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo, Japan, a market in which it competes with the cheaper Rinkai Line.The line is named after the...
) on the mainland side.
Usage
Rainbow bridge carries three transportation lines on two decks. The upper deck carries the Shuto ExpresswayShuto Expressway
is a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
's Daiba Route
Route 11 (Shuto Expressway)
Route 11 is one of the routes of the Shuto Expressway system in the Tokyo area. Route 11 runs from Shibaura Junction in Minato-ku and runs for 3.9 km through Rainbow Bridge...
, while the lower deck carries the Yurikamome
Yurikamome
, formally the is an automated guideway transit service operated by the Tokyo Waterfront New Transit Corporation, connecting Shimbashi to Toyosu, passing through the artificial island of Odaiba in Tokyo, Japan, a market in which it competes with the cheaper Rinkai Line.The line is named after the...
rapid transit system in the centre, walkways on the outer side, and Tokyo Prefectural Route 482 in-between. Route 482 was formerly a tolled road, but opposition to the toll led to its removal. Bicycles and light motorcycles under 50cc are not permitted on either deck or the walkway of the bridge. Motorcycle pillion
Pillion
A pillion is a mostly British English term for a secondary pad, cushion, or seat behind the main seat or saddle on a horse, motorcycle, bicycle or moped...
passengers are also banned.
Walkway
The bridge has two separate walkways on the north and south sides of the lower deck; the north side offers views of the inner Tokyo harbour and Tokyo TowerTokyo Tower
is a communications and observation tower located in Shiba Park, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. At , it is the second tallest artificial structure in Japan. The structure is an Eiffel Tower-inspired lattice tower that is painted white and international orange to comply with air safety regulations.Built in...
, while the south side offers views of Tokyo Bay and occasionally Mount Fuji
Mount Fuji
is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
. The walkways may only be used during certain hours (9 am to 9 pm in the summer; 10 am to 6 pm in the winter).
Panorama
See also
- Yokohama Bay BridgeYokohama Bay BridgeThe is a 860-metre-long cable stayed bridge in Yokohama, Japan. Opened September 27, 1989, it crosses Tokyo Bay with a span of 460 metres . The toll is ¥600. The bridge is part of the Bayshore Route of the Shuto Expressway....
- List of bridges in Japan
- List of largest suspension bridges
External links
- Rainbow Bridge (Metropolitan Expressway Co., Ltd.)