Construction started in 1981

The Yokohama Bay Bridge is a long-span bridge with a two-level structure that forms part of the Tokyo Bay Road and also the Bay Shore Route. It is a two-layered suspension cable-stayed bridge with a total length of 860m. The construction of Yokohama Bay Bridge was started with the aim of strengthening the function of Yokohama Port as an international port, and connecting the Honmoku futo and Daikoku futo.
Let's look back at the period from the start of foundation work in 1981 until the opening in 1989.

• 1Concrete barge production

  

  The outer shell (concrete barge, 56m × 54m × 8.25m for the main tower) of the pier foundation (footing) was manufactured at a reclaimed dock (about 126m × 86m × 8.5m) in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama City.

• 2Towing the concrete barge

  

  After the completion of construction in the dock, water was injected into the dock and the revetment was removed. The concrete barge was made to float on the sea and towed to the erection site of the bridge piers.

• 3Erection of caisson

  

  A cylindrical concrete box (caisson) was placed on the concrete barge towed to the erection site of the bridge pier, the ocean floor was excavated, and the caisson was filled with concrete and anchored to the ocean floor.

• 4Footing construction

  

  After erecting the caisson, the base (anchor frame) for fixing the pier was installed. Then, concrete was filled in the concrete barge, the foundation (footing) of the piers was constructed, and thus the lower structure was complete.

• 5Erecting the bottom of main tower

  

  Pillars and beams were assembled on-shore beforehand, and erected at a stretch using a large crane ship, thus building the bottom of the main tower.

• 6Assembling the side span girder

  

  As the side span girders were to be erected in a single operation using a large crane ship, they were assembled on-shore into large blocks beforehand.
  *The girder between two main towers is called the center span girder, and the outside girder is called the side span girder.

• 7Erecting the large side span girder block

  

  The side span girders assembled into a large blocks were erected by suspension construction method by using two large crane ships.

• 8Erecting the center span girder

  

  The center span girder assembled on-shore was carried using a barge, and erected using a large girder-based crane. Cables connecting the girder and the main tower were connected at the same time.

• 9Completion

  

  After erecting the center span girder, road accessories such as guardrail and lights were installed, and roads were paved. Thus, the construction was completed.

Opened on Sep 27, 1989

With hopes of many on its back, the opening day was celebrated. The bridge is not just an important transportation route that supports port logistics, but is also a visually impressive symbol of Yokohama.