Usui Bridge Explained

Usui Bridge (Japanese: 碓氷第三橋梁, うすいだいさんきょうりょう) is the largest brick-masonry arched bridge in Japan, located over Usui river in Gunma prefecture. The bridge was built in 1892 for Usui railway line to travel between Yokokawa in Gunma prefecture and Karuizawa in Nagano prefecture. It was designed by a British engineer Charles Assheton Whately Pownall during the Meiji era, with some of the piers reaching heights of up to .^[1]

The total length is and used about 2 million bricks for its construction. Following electrification of the Shin'etsu Main Line, a new line was constructed in 1963.^[2]

In 2001, it formed a part of walkway trail.^{[3] [4]}

The bridge is also called Megane bashi meaning spectacles bridge because of its arch shape. ^[5]

Bus routes

• JR BUS KANTO Usui Line
  • For Karuizawa Station
  • For Yokokawa Station
    • This bus route passes through Megane-bashi bus stop located near this bridge during autumn.

References

36.3581°N 138.6984°W

Notes and References

1. News: Earthquakes in Japan . The Sydney Morning Herald . 4 . 26 December 1893.
2. Book: Hiroshi Isohata, Illustrated Japan and the World's Civil Heritage . Shuwa System . 168 . 2017 . 978-4-7980-5223-6 .
3. Web site: Usui 3rd Bridge (Megane-bashi) Gunma Official Tourist Guide. 2021-10-06.
4. Web site: Gunma Association of Tourism, Local Products & International Exchange. 2021-10-06.
5. Web site: Organization. Japan National Tourism. Usui 3rd Bridge - Gunma Attractions - Travel Japan - JNTO. Travel Japan. 2021-10-06.