The Kawazu-Nanadaru Loop Bridge, in
Japan, is an example of how to build a bridge from one mountainside to another
when the sides of the mountain are so steep that it is not possible to build a
road at the same elevation on both sides.
This double spiral brings cars up
and down a full 45 meters while being seemingly suspended in a valley between
two mountainsides. The spirals measure 80m in diameter and the whole ramp
section is 1.1km long.
Coming upon
this bridge in the middle of this mountain road is quite an experience. The
bridge was finished in 1982 and has become a popular landmark on route 414
heading south from Tokyo towards the hot spring resorts of the Izu
peninsula.
The road's winding design, providing stunning panoramic views,
is very curvy and fun for a leisurely ride, so it pays to take it slow. The only way for traffic to get down
the mountainside into the valley, too steep for any other usual road-building
solutions. The double-spiral structure demands careful driving – the speed
limit on the bridge is only 30 km/h, which also helps to better enjoy.
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