歩道橋

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 歩道橋 is read as ほどうきょう and is a noun for a pedestrian overpass built so people can cross above a roadway.
• Basic usage: Crossing it appears in 歩道橋を渡る, while referring to its stairs appears in 歩道橋の階段.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An elevated pedestrian route
  • It is not a bridge for vehicles but a structure, often with stairs, that separates pedestrians from the roadway below.
• Difference from 横断歩道
  • 横断歩道 is a marked crossing at road level, whereas 歩道橋 carries pedestrians above the traffic.