Tacoma Narrows Bridge

USA / Washington / Fircrest /
 place with historical importance, disaster site, suspension bridge
The site of the famous suspension bridge of Tacoma. It was originally nicknamed "Galloping Gertie" due to its movement. The 42mph wind-induced collapse occurred on November 7, 1940, due to a physical phenomenon known as mechanical resonance and destroyed in less than 6 months from opening (the only fatality being Tubby the Cocker Spaniel). It was redesigned and re-built in 1950 (the delay from WWII, mostly). The new bridge opened in 1950, and is 5,979 feet long. It is currently the fifth-longest suspension bridge in the United States.

A new bridge was eventually built next to the old one to accommodate increased traffic, opening 2007. The new section carries east-bound traffic while the old section was converted to west-bound only.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   47°16'5"N   122°33'1"W

Comments

  • free for westbound traffic $3 toll for eastbound traffic until they raise it to $4 in summer 2008
  • I've never seen that video in color before
  • Second photo of old (but not oldest!) Tacoma Narrows Bridge courtesy of me, photo was taken by me in December 2002.