EMU Tokyo Metro 10000 series at Shin-Kiba Station on the Yurakucho Line
Following the completion of Tokyo Sky Tree (see my blog on July 29th, 2011); a new landmark was opened in Tokyo, the Tokyo Gate Bridge (see the bottom photo).
Tokyo Gate Bridge is a 2.9km long road bridge across Tokyo Bay. Unlike Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway (a 14km long tunnel-bridge combination) and Rainbow Bridge (a 798m suspension bridge), it is not an express road, but a toll free local street. Due to two kinds of restrictions, the designing of the bridge was very difficult. One of them is the Aviation Law. The bridge location is close to Tokyo International Airport; therefore, it is prohibited to construct a tall suspension bridge. Another restriction is to secure vertical clearance for large vessels to enter Port of Tokyo. Consequently, a truss-type design was adopted. The shape of the bridge became to be similar in appearance with a dinosaur. So, Tokyoites call this bridge "Dinosaur Bridge".
To visit this new landmark, it is convenient to get off at Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (see the top photo). Pedestrians can climb up the bridge easily, as there is a free elevator next to the bridge girder. I visited there last Saturday. It was very cold and windy at the 61m high bridge; however, a superb view there was, enough to quickly wash away all of my everyday stresses. I could see Tokyo's other new landmark, Tokyo Sky Tree, clearly from there.
I would like to visit Tokyo Gate Bridge again in summer to enjoy night view of the downtown and cool night breeze.
Tokyo Gate Bridge is a 2.9km long road bridge across Tokyo Bay. Unlike Trans-Tokyo Bay Highway (a 14km long tunnel-bridge combination) and Rainbow Bridge (a 798m suspension bridge), it is not an express road, but a toll free local street. Due to two kinds of restrictions, the designing of the bridge was very difficult. One of them is the Aviation Law. The bridge location is close to Tokyo International Airport; therefore, it is prohibited to construct a tall suspension bridge. Another restriction is to secure vertical clearance for large vessels to enter Port of Tokyo. Consequently, a truss-type design was adopted. The shape of the bridge became to be similar in appearance with a dinosaur. So, Tokyoites call this bridge "Dinosaur Bridge".
To visit this new landmark, it is convenient to get off at Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (see the top photo). Pedestrians can climb up the bridge easily, as there is a free elevator next to the bridge girder. I visited there last Saturday. It was very cold and windy at the 61m high bridge; however, a superb view there was, enough to quickly wash away all of my everyday stresses. I could see Tokyo's other new landmark, Tokyo Sky Tree, clearly from there.
I would like to visit Tokyo Gate Bridge again in summer to enjoy night view of the downtown and cool night breeze.
Tokyo Gate Bridge near Shin-Kiba Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line