Irabu Ohashi

The Irabu Ohashi runs west-north-west from Kugai, beside Hirara port, to the Irabu shore near Nagayama, 3,540 m over open water and about 6.5 km including the approach roads. It opened on 31 January 2015 and ended the ferry run to Sarahama the same day. The road climbs to a high point of 27 m above the main shipping channel and drops again toward Irabu, so the crossing doubles as a short climb on a flat island.

There is one lane in each direction with a 1.25 m shoulder, which is where you ride. Stopping on the central section is banned, and Japanese Wikipedia notes that many drivers stop there for photographs anyway. In winter the wind comes from the north and north-east and hits the bridge side-on, so a gust over the crest can push you toward the traffic lane. Ride it early, keep your hands on the bars at the top, and stop for photographs at the Umi no Eki roadside station on the Irabu side, which looks back along the span.

The Tour de Miyakojima road race sent riders over all three bridges in 2017, and the All Japan Triathlon Miyakojima added this bridge to its bike course in 2015; today's triathlon bike leg crosses only the Ikema Ohashi. From the Irabu end the loop of Irabu and Shimoji adds the runway at 17END and Sawada no Hama, with six short bridges over the channel between the two islands.