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Rigid construction, causing a unique swing and sway that moved the bride in waves, was the fatal design flaw that made this 4 month old bridge an instant attraction and led to her fall to fame as ?Gallopin' Gertie.? On November7, 1940, high winds turned the waves to violent twists, the cables snapped at 40 mph and down she came! Reopened in October, 1950, today's Tacoma Narrows Bridge is a structure that towers 467 feet high, has a bridge deck 187 feet above the swirling waters of the Narrows channel and modern crossbar construction that allows for swing and sway even in 100 mph winds. |
