The first bridge across the Tacoma Narrows has quite a story to tell. So much so that even after it's spectacular collapse in November 1940 the remains of the original structure stand alongside it's replacement.
.JPG)
The story goes that this suspension bridge which opened on the 1st of July 1940 had a rep for vertical movement especially when the wind was up even while under construction. The construction workers nick-named her "Galloping Gertie" almost from the start and that name certainly stuck. Locals recall the movement as something to be experienced and my Auntie remembers nearly taking a group of camp fire girls across on foot but reconsidering when the wind did it's magic. I took this photo in the Washington History Museum in Tacoma. It's part of the Washington State Ikon exhibit..JPG)
A video of the collapse shows almost in slow motion how it all came tumbling down. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Fi1VcbpAI
An engineering nightmare after only 5 months use.
No comments:
Post a Comment