The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge(AKB) is a three-span, two-hinged stiffening girder system suspension bridge that spans the Akashi Strait between Maiko, Tarumi-ward in Kobe, and Matsuho, on Awaji Island. The original plan for the AKB, which contained railway lines as well, was at one point cancelled by the government ; in 1985 the decision was made to restrict it to highway use only. In April of the following year, the commencement ceremony was conducted ; after various investigations and procedures, actual construction began in May 1988, and took a total of ten years. The AKB become the longest suspension bridges in the world, surpassing the Humber Bridge (England, 1,410 meter center span) by 581 meters.

Although in primary design the AKB was 3,910 meters long overall, with a center span of 1,990 meters, it was extended 1 meter by the Great Hanshin Earthquake (January 17, 1995)

Facts:

The bridge is so long, it would take eight Sears Towers laid end to end to span the same distance.

The length of the cables used in the bridge totals 300,000 kilometers. That's enough to circle the earth 7.5 times!

The bridge holds three records: it is the longest, tallest, and most expensive suspension bridge ever built.