Was strengthening the function of Yokohama Port as an international port the main goal when they started building this bridge? Let’s talk about S20 横浜橋. This bridge isn’t just steel and concrete. It’s a vital part of Shanghai’s story.
The Yokohama Bay Bridge is not in Shanghai. It’s a long-span bridge. It has a two-level structure. It forms part of the Tokyo Bay Road and the Bay Shore Route. The total length of the Yokohama Bay Bridge is 860m. Construction of the Yokohama Bay Bridge began in 1981. The goal was to strengthen Yokohama Port. It aimed to connect Honmoku futo and Daikoku futo.
Let’s journey back to the start of the foundation work in 1981. The outer shell was a concrete barge. It measured 56m x 54m x 8.25m. This barge served as the main tower’s footing. It was manufactured in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama City.
After construction, workers injected water into the dock. They removed the revetment. The concrete barge floated. It was towed to the bridge pier’s erection site. A cylindrical concrete box or caisson was placed on the barge. Workers excavated the ocean floor. The caisson was filled with concrete. It was anchored to the ocean floor.
After erecting the caisson, they installed the base. This was the anchor frame for fixing the pier. Concrete filled the barge. The pier’s foundation was constructed. The lower structure was complete.
Pillars and beams were assembled on-shore. A large crane ship erected them. This built the bottom of the main tower. Side span girders were assembled on-shore. They were made into large blocks beforehand. A large crane ship erected these blocks. This was done using the suspension construction method.
The center span girder was assembled on-shore. A barge carried it. A large girder-based crane erected it. Cables connected the girder and the main tower simultaneously.
After erecting the center span girder, road accessories were installed. These included guardrails and lights. Roads were paved. The construction was complete. The Yokohama Bay Bridge opened on September 27, 1989.
The bridge supports port logistics. It’s also a symbol of Yokohama. Yokohama City named it Yokohama Bay Bridge in 1964. During construction, it was called the “Yokohama route crossing bridge.” It was also known as the “Yokohama port crossing bridge.” The name “Yokohama Bay Bridge” was adopted. The naming held a special place in people’s hearts.