Difference between revisions of "Ryujin Footbridge"

Revision as of 03:08, 17 January 2023

Ryujin Footbridge
竜神大吊橋
Nishitari, Ibaraki, Japan
385 feet high / 117 meters high
1,230 foot span / 375 meter span
1994

At the time of its opening in 1994, the Ryujin Footbridge was the second longest span conventional suspension pedestrian bridge in the world at 1,230 feet (375 mtrs). Also opened in 1994 is the Wanjiazhai Dam suspension footbridge that was constructed over the Yellow River with a span of 1,640 feet (500 mtrs) between towers or 1,532 feet (467 mtrs) as measured along the deck. The bridge was originally built for workers to get across the Yellow River gorge during the construction of the Wanjiazhai hydroelectric dam and was not rehabilitated for public use until 2000.

Among Japanese footbridges, Ryujin was finally surpassed in 2006 by the Kokonoe "Yume" Otsurihashi suspension footbridge with a main span of 1,280 feet (390 mtrs). Prior to Ryujin and Kokonoe, one of the country’s longest suspension footbridges was the 1984-built Teruha bridge in Aya with a tower to tower distance of 820 feet (250 mtrs). At the time Aya also held Japan’s bridge height record at 466 feet. (142 mtrs).

With thick, muscular towers, a deep stiffening truss and a wide deck, Ryujin could almost be mistaken for a road bridge. The overbuilt design has made a walk across the bridge less fearful for those who are afraid of heights. Located just upstream from a dam, The Ryujin bridge is 300 feet (91 mtrs) high to the full reservoir level or 385 feet (117 mtrs) to the old river level. Love em’ or hate em’, the unusual steel fins protruding from the the towers give the bridge a one-of-a-kind look like no other. Pierre Cardin would approve!

Japan's highest bungy jump is located at Ryujin Bridge and is open year-round. Check out their website below. http://www.bungyjapan.com/ryujin/?lang=en

1994年のオープンの際、375ｍスパンの竜神大吊橋は世界一の一般的な歩行者専用吊橋でした。しかし、2006年に主要スパンが390ｍという別の巨大な日本の橋“九重夢大つり橋”に越されてしまいました。竜神大吊橋と九重夢大つり橋以前には、日本一の人道吊橋は1984年に架設された綾町の照葉大吊橋（支間250ｍ）でした。また、この時、照葉大吊橋の高さ142ｍによって、綾町は日本一高い橋の記録を獲得しました。

しかし、どの橋も、マレーシア、セランゴルのスンウェイラグーン・テーマパーク（Sunway Lagoon Theme Park in Selangor, Malaysia）にある全長428mのカテナリー型つり橋ほど長くはありません。カテナリー型つり橋には、しばしば平らでなく不安定に傾斜するデッキがあるため多くの人はこの橋を真のつり橋として認めていません。

厚く力強いタワー、深く堅いトラス、そして幅広いデッキによって、竜神大吊橋は車道橋梁と見間違えるほどです。その上、細かい設計がこの吊橋には生かされていて、高いところが苦手な人もあまり恐れることなく歩行者用通路を渡ることができます。この橋は、竜神ダムの上流に架設されており、デッキから古い川の水面まで少なくても100ｍあります。貯水池はデッキより約８５ｍ下にあります。好きか嫌いかに関わらず、タワーより突き出ているめずらしい鋼鉄のヒレが、この橋を他にはないここだけの唯一の橋にしています。きっと、ピエール・カルダンも絶賛してくれることでしょうね！

World's 30 Longest Footbridge Spans

1. Sky Bridge 721, Czech Republic - 721 meters

2. Tibetan Footbridge of Canillo, Andorra - 603 meters

3. Gandaki Golden/Baglung Parbat, Nepal - 567 meters

4. 516 Arouca, Portugal - 516 meters

5. Wanjiazhai Dam, China - 500 meters

6. Charles Kunonen, Switzerland – 494 meters

7. Kushma Bungy, Nepal - (490) meters

8. Huangchuansanxia Glass, China - 460 meters

9. Rappbode Dam, Germany - 458 meters

10. Tianyundu Glass Footbridge, China - (450) meters

11. Daqingshan Glass Footbridge, China - 450 meters

12. Longguwan Glass Footbridge, China - (445) meters

13. Hongyagu Glass, China - 445 meters

14. Sochi Skybridge, Russia – 439 meters

15. Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass, China – 430 meters

16. Yinzuotianmeng, China – 420 meters

17. Ulleong Sogeumsan, South Korea - 404 meters

18. Highline 179, Austria – 402 meters

19. Mishima Grand, Japan – 400 meters

20. Kokonoe Otsurihashi, Japan - 390 meters

21. Ryujin, Japan - 375 meters

22. Skywalk Sattel, Switzerland - (374 meters)

23. Bega-Banduk, Nepal - 365 meters

24. Geierlay, Germany – 360 meters

25. Kushma-Mudhikuwa, Nepal - 359 meters

26. Baiheshanzhuang Footbridge, China - 358 meters

27. Bailihuang Glass Footbridge, China - 350 meters

28. Triveni Garas, Nepal - 350 meters

29. Bunwajorghat, Nepal - 350 meters

30. Shuiyuan Footbridge, China - 342 meters