Project focus: Design of Awa Shirasagi Ohashi Bridge

The Awa Shirasagi Ohashi Bridge, which includes novel structural systems, was recently constructed in Tokushima, Japan (Figure 1). There were a number of severe design constraints for the project. The bridge is located in a very environmentally sensitive area. The site is also in a seismic region and is frequently struck by typhoons. Furthermore, the bridge was to be founded on soft alluvium, and to be constructed to a tight budget. These exceptionally challenging constraints led engineers to adopt a novel combination of structural forms, including the ‘cable egret’ cable truss system, an improved form of the permanent tubular steel pile cofferdam foundation and a steel- concrete composite sandwich slab deck.

Author(s): S. Takeichi (Tokushima Prefecture Land Development Public Corporation, Japan) Y. Kubo (Tokushima Prefectural Government, Japan) K. Terada (Executive Professional Civil Engineer, Technical Adviser Office, Japan) D. Saito (Mott MacDonald, UK)

Keywords: awa shirasagi ohashi bridge, tokushima, japan, Bridges, long span, wetlands, foundations, piles, composite construction, sandwiches, slabs, cables, aerodynamics, wind tunnels, testing