TOKYO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Study Tours of Civil Engineering Facilities for International StudentsHEADLINE
We have been running a new project from 2013, “The Study Tours of Civil
Engineering Facilities for International Students under the Asian Human
Resources Fund Program”.
This “Study Tour” aims to broaden our students’ view and draw on their experiences by visiting various important facilities and infrastructures in Japan.
Furthermore, sometimes we try to invite students from other projects in the tours. We believe that would help our international students to establish meaningful connections between them, both for their study and life in Japan.
check other tours
1st Tour; The Technical Tour of KACHIDOKI Bridge
Date : December 17, 2013
Location : 6Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Kachidoki Bridge is the best known and the most unique of the 27 bridges that cross the Sumida River, in Tokyo. This bridge was built in 1940 and the first-ever and only double-leaf bascule bridge. These 2 leaves moved independently and this system had issued the patent for its leading-edge technology in the world at that time.
Kachidoki Bridge is 246 meters long and 22 meters wide. Operated by electricity, it takes about 70 seconds to open or close. Until 1953, when the river was the major route of Tokyo's transportation, Kachidoki Bridge opened 5 times a day for 20 minutes each to let the ships pass through. As highways were built and overland traffic increased, the use of freight ships decreased and the bridge was opened less. In the year 1964 Kachidoki Bridge opened only 100 times, and in the years that followed, the frequency lessened. In 1970 it opened only once, and that was the last time. It hasn't opened since. Kachidoki bridge is still one of the most important infrastructure with its scale and high-quality, and designated as a national important cultural property.
We went up to the inside of the bridge pier and took a closer look on its electric motors and bascule functions.
Location : 6Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Kachidoki Bridge is the best known and the most unique of the 27 bridges that cross the Sumida River, in Tokyo. This bridge was built in 1940 and the first-ever and only double-leaf bascule bridge. These 2 leaves moved independently and this system had issued the patent for its leading-edge technology in the world at that time.
Kachidoki Bridge is 246 meters long and 22 meters wide. Operated by electricity, it takes about 70 seconds to open or close. Until 1953, when the river was the major route of Tokyo's transportation, Kachidoki Bridge opened 5 times a day for 20 minutes each to let the ships pass through. As highways were built and overland traffic increased, the use of freight ships decreased and the bridge was opened less. In the year 1964 Kachidoki Bridge opened only 100 times, and in the years that followed, the frequency lessened. In 1970 it opened only once, and that was the last time. It hasn't opened since. Kachidoki bridge is still one of the most important infrastructure with its scale and high-quality, and designated as a national important cultural property.
We went up to the inside of the bridge pier and took a closer look on its electric motors and bascule functions.
