Taken together, the 1940 and 1950 Tacoma Narrows bridges mark a significant turning point in the design of long-span suspension bridges. The original 1940 structure was designed with one of the shallowest and narrowest stiffening elements of any long-span suspension bridge yet built. The structure failed dramatically in a rather moderate 42 mph windstorm on 7 November 1940, only four months after opening for traffic.
1940s
![Howard Clifford running off the Tacoma Narrows Bridge during collapse](/sites/default/files/styles/landmark_node_/public/2018-02/Howard_Clifford_running_off_the_Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge_during_collapse%2C_Tacoma%2C_Washington_%284861196144%29.jpg?itok=iZ6jBmtE)
Innovations
![Howard Clifford running off the Tacoma Narrows Bridge during collapse](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2018-02/Howard_Clifford_running_off_the_Tacoma_Narrows_Bridge_during_collapse%2C_Tacoma%2C_Washington_%284861196144%29.jpg?itok=lheXYHSk)
Taken together, the 1940 and 1950 Tacoma Narrows bridges mark a significant turning point in the design of long-span suspension bridges. The original 1940 structure was designed with one of the shallowest and narrowest stiffening elements of any long-span suspension bridge yet built. The…
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