16.049 | Shiokaze Footbridge

The Shiokaze footbridge is located in Shiokaze Park overlooking Tokyo Bay. The bridge connects the park, which is divided into north and south by the Tokyo Bay Highway. The old Shiokaze bridge was a wooden arch bridge, which was removed in 2012 due to damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. The bridge was replaced in preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The arch was placed on the side of the ventilation tower to open up the sea view. The symbolic openings of the arch form a landmark from tour boats. The arch is curved in the out-of-plane direction to minimize the bending moment.  Considering the fabrication, the arch shape was refined based on simple geometry. The deck consists of closed sections to absorb torsion and requires little maintenance in the harsh coastal environment.