Bandai Bridge

Bandai Bridge 萬代橋
The Bandai Bridge seen from the right bank
Crosses	Shinano River
Characteristics
Material	Reinforced concrete
Total length	306.9 metres (1,007 ft)
Width	21.9 metres (72 ft)
Number of spans	6
History
Inaugurated	1886
Rebuilt	1929

The Bandai Bridge (萬代橋, Bandai-bashi^?) is a bridge crossing the Shinano River in Niigata, Niigata Prefecture, Japan via National Route 7. The current bridge was constructed in 1929, and was designated as a nationally Important Cultural Property in July 2004.

The current bridge contains six arches and is made of reinforced concrete with granite siding. It is 306.9 meters long, 21.9 meters wide, and has two car lanes in each direction. The Bandai Bridge is a prime example of large-scale concrete arch bridges from the Showa Period, and was strong enough not to collapse during the 1964 Niigata earthquake which destroyed large sections of Niigata.

Today the Bandai Bridge is considered the symbol of the city of Niigata and is one of the city's most scenic spots, especially when lit up at night.

In April 2004, the bridge celebrated its 75th anniversary by being designated as a national Important Cultural Property. This same year, much of the bridge was reconstructed to resemble the original model.

The Bandai Bridge is located on the Shinano River, and is separated from the river mouth by only the Yachiyo and Ryuto bridges. North of the bridge are the Furumachi and Honcho shopping districts, and south of the bridge are the Bandai shopping district, the Niigata West Port (Bandaijima) district, and Niigata Station. Japan National Route 7 crosses the bridge, connecting Niigata Station to the areas south of the Shinano River.