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Tokyo is removing the expressway blocking the view of Nihonbashi Bridge

A section of the Metropolitan Expressway is being dismantled as part of Nihonbashi’s regeneration project

Kaila Imada
Written by
Kaila Imada
Associate Editor, Time Out Tokyo
One day in... Nihonbashi
Photo: Time Out TokyoNihonbashi Bridge
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From the expansion of Yoyogi Park to the new developments opening in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo’s infrastructure is continuously changing. Now, the city is working towards removing an elevated portion of the Metropolitan Expressway which stretches over the historical Nihonbashi Bridge. As reported by The Japan Times, the removal work began last Friday, June 24, as part of a larger city renewal project. The expressway will be redirected into a 1.1km-long tunnel underground.

Nihonbashi Bridge has been a landmark in Tokyo for over four centuries. Initially built back in 1603, the bridge was an integral link along the Tokaido Road connecting Edo (now Tokyo) to the old capital of Kyoto. The current stone structure, which was rebuilt in grand Western style during the Meiji era (1868-1912), dates back to 1911. It’s now designated a national important cultural property. According to the report, the beloved bridge will be free from the shadow of the overpass by 2041. 

The dismantling and rerouting of the expressway to uncover the full glory of the picturesque Nihonbashi Bridge is part of a larger ¥320 billion renewal project, which will regenerate a 1.8km-stretch of the city between Kandabashi and Edobashi.

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