The World's Top 18 Expensive Bridge Projects Exposed

9. Japan's Kintai Bridge

Location: Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan

Founded: 1673 (rebuilt in 1950)

Price: *$19 million

The Kintai Bridge gracefully spans the Nishiki River and is a historical marvel originally constructed in 1673. Nestled at the foot of Mount Yokoyama, which is home to the majestic Iwakuni Castle, the bridge features five elegant wooden arches that contribute to its unique charm.

After suffering damage over the years, the Kintai Bridge was rebuilt in 1950, preserving its traditional design while ensuring its structural integrity. Today, it attracts numerous visitors, especially during the picturesque seasons of fall and spring, when the surrounding landscape is adorned with vibrant colors.

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Japan's Kintai Bridge The Japanese maples' autumnal color shift and the springtime Cherry Blossom Festival give the bridge an airy, Disney film aspect. Every 20 years, the Japanese government has maintained the Kintai Bridge after designating it a "National Treasure" in 1922. The bridge is currently only seventy years old, having undergone a complete reconstruction following Typhoon Kijia in 1950. When the first Kintai Bridge was finished in 1673, it was an incredible achievement. The Kintai preserved its original structure—which was finished without the use of metal nails—for three centuries. The precisely matched wooden components were clamped and bound by the builders using massive girders. As a result, the bridge was robust above but feeble below. For the purpose of preventing flooding, the Japanese government was forced to alter the original design.