Meiko Triton

Three cable-stayed bridges — Meiko Higashi, Meiko Chuo and Meiko Nishi — collectively known as Meiko Triton, carry the Ise Bay Shoreline Expressway across Nagoya Port. All three opened in March 1998. Meiko Chuo Bridge spans 1,170 m with a central span of 590 m.

Use

Bridge

Area

Nagoya City

Completed

1998

Developer

Nagoya Expressway Corporation / Japan Highway Public Corporation

Three Bridges, Three Colours above Nagoya Port

Meiko Triton is the collective name for three cable-stayed bridges — Meiko Higashi (East), Meiko Chuo (Central) and Meiko Nishi (West) — that carry the Ise Bay Shoreline Expressway over Nagoya Port. Each bridge is painted a different colour: blue for Meiko Higashi, white for Meiko Chuo and red for Meiko Nishi. When viewed from the shoreline, the trio floats above the water as a vivid three-coloured landmark.

The centrepiece, Meiko Chuo Bridge, is the largest of the three with a total length of 1,170 m and a central span of 590 m. Its deck clears the water surface by 47 m, the minimum needed to allow large vessels into one of Japan’s busiest cargo ports. Meiko Higashi Bridge measures 700 m in total length, while Meiko Nishi Bridge stretches 758 m with a central span of 405 m. An interesting footnote: Meiko Nishi’s main towers were originally planned in white, but the height was found to conflict with aviation law, requiring them to be repainted red. All three bridges entered service on 31 March 1998.

Connecting a Major Industrial Port to the Motorway Network

Nagoya Port is one of Japan’s foremost container terminals and the hub of the country’s automotive export industry. Meiko Triton links this logistics heart to the Ise Bay Shoreline Expressway, which in turn connects the Tomei-Meishin corridor to the Tokai Kanjo Expressway. After the full opening of the Ise Bay Shoreline Expressway in 2004, the bridges became a critical node in the ring road around greater Nagoya.

The Kinjo Futo waterfront on the east side of the port offers an unobstructed view of all three bridges. The area has grown more visitor-friendly in recent years, with LEGOLAND® Japan opening nearby in 2017.

Summary

Meiko Triton’s three cable-stayed bridges opened in March 1998 as the defining structure of the Ise Bay Shoreline Expressway’s crossing of Nagoya Port. Meiko Chuo Bridge, the longest at 1,170 m, ensures clearance for large vessels while the trio’s red-white-blue colour scheme turns functional infrastructure into a distinctive urban landmark. A walk along the Kinjo Futo waterfront rewards visitors with a full panorama of all three spans against the port skyline.

Related: Akashi Kaikyo Bridge / Midland Square

Visiting Nagoya? Rakuten Travel lists hotels throughout the city and harbour area.