The ‘Rollercoaster Bridge’ Gives Some Motorists Panic Attacks Because Of How Scary It Looks

Jul 08, 2022 by apost team

No matter how experienced the driver, there are always certain drives that people are afraid of, and the Eshima Ohashi Bridge located in Sakaiminato, Japan, otherwise known as the "rollercoaster bridge" is no exception. With an incline of 6.1 percent (the equivalent of going up or down 6.1 feet in height for every 100 feet in length), this bridge may give even the most experienced truck driver heart palpitations.

Eshima Ohashi is an architect’s biggest dream. It connects Matsue in the Shimane Prefecture to Sakaiminato in the Tottori Prefecture over Nakaumi Lake. Due to the extensive traffic on the lake, the unique architecture of Eshima Ohashi was a necessity. The bridge was created to ensure boat traffic would never be delayed while traveling under the bridge. Therefore this structure appears almost vertical when one approaches it in a motor vehicle, reported JapanKuru.

Miraculously, however, there have been no reported accidents on the Eshima Ohashi Bridge and authorities state any vehicle should be able to safely traverse it. Built from 1997 to 2004, this bridge is a literal tourist attraction. People add it to their list of top things to see while traveling in and around the area.

Although there are so many frightening roads and bridges in the world, the Eshima Ohashi definitely deserves a spot in the top 10. This bridge definitely has earned the title of the most terrifying bridge in Japan, according to Express. Combine a fear of heights with this bridge’s architecture and it can be a total nightmare to traverse.

The bridge was built to replace a draw bridge that originally stood in its place. The drawbridge was too small for boats to pass under so road traffic was disrupted every seven to eight minutes. Vehicles could only be under 14 tons to cross and a maximum of 4000 vehicles a day could cross. Teams of many Japanese architects and engineers started to construct Eshima Ohashi — the third-largest of its kind in the world — starting back in 1977. The bridge opened many years later, on Oct. 16, 2004. 

The mile-long bridge is also 145 feet high. It is one of the tallest bridges in the world. The legendary bridge is often referred to as "betabumi-zaka" which means a pedal-to-the-metal slope. Just looking at pictures of the legendary bridge can cause your blood pressure to rise. Could you imagine actually driving over it? However, the bridge does not appear to be as scary if you look at it from different angles rather than straight on. It is often referred to as the "rollercoaster bridge" for the feelings that can be caused while driving it. 

Aside from driving over the bridge, it is also open to pedestrians and bicyclists to use for walking and riding. One brave man named John Daub rode his bike up to the top of the bridge and it was no easy feat. The video has over seven million views and over 65,000 likes. YouTube users were shocked to see the bridge and to see him make it to the top! Users commented: "Man, I was blown away by the view at the top! I think I'd walk that bridge every day just to be able to stop at the top and enjoy the sights for a few moments!"

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What’s the scariest drive you've ever experienced? Tell us about it. Do you think your friends and family would enjoy visiting the Eshima Ohashi Bridge? Pass this story on to dare them!