
On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge
Silver Bridge
The Silver Bridge was an eyebar-chain suspension bridge built in 1928 and named for the color of its aluminum paint. The bridge carried U.S. Route 35 over the Ohio River, connecting Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and Gallipolis, Ohio.
What caused the collapse of the Silver Bridge?
What caused the collapse of the Silver Bridge? On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed under the weight of rush-hour traffic, resulting in the deaths of 46 people. Investigation of the wreckage pointed to the cause of the collapse being the failure of a single eyebar in a suspension chain, due to a small defect 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) deep.
Why did the Silver Bridge collapse?
What caused the collapse of the Silver Bridge? Investigation of the wreckage pointed to the cause of the collapse being the failure of a single eyebar in a suspension chain, due to a small defect 0.1 inches (2.5 mm) deep.
Why did the West Gate Bridge collapse?
To bring them in line, one of the spans was weighed down with several concrete blocks, each weighing about 8 tons. This caused the span to buckle, in itself a sign of structural failure. In an effort to later straighten out the buckle, engineers removed a number of bolts which caused the span to snap back and subsequently collapse.
What caused the Florida bridge to collapse?
The USA’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined the probable causes of last year’s fatal collapse of a footbridge in Florida. Calculation errors and inadequate peer review led to the collapse, it concluded during a public board meeting held yesterday at the conclusion of its investigations.

Why did the Silver Bridge collapse?
The bridge failure was due to a defect in a single link, known as eyebar 330, on the north of the Ohio subsidiary chain, the first link below the top of the Ohio tower. A small crack was formed through fretting wear at the bearing, and grew through internal corrosion, a problem known as stress corrosion cracking.
What was the worst bridge collapse in US history?
On the morning of May 9, 1980, a sudden squall engulfed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay south of St. Petersburg, Florida.
What happened to the Silver Bridge in West Virginia?
At about 5 p.m. on December 15, the eyebar failed, setting off a series of other failures that caused the bridge to collapse. It was rush hour, and the bridge was packed with cars. Thirty-one vehicles plunged into the icy waters of the Ohio River. Twenty-one people survived, but 46 died in the disaster.
What was the cause of the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows bridge?
The collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was driven by wind-generated vortices that reinforced the twisting motion of the bridge deck until it failed.
Why soldiers are not allowed to march on bridges?
So when soldiers march on a hanging bridge, it may have a chance to make a resonance condition . So the bridge will collapse. So to avoid that, soldiers break their stride on a bridge.
How many bridges have collapsed in the United States?
Probability and statistics were used to estimate the average number of bridge collapses throughout the United States and a value of 128 annually was determined with a range between 87 and 222.
How many died in the Silver Bridge collapse?
46 people(WSAZ) - The West Virginia Department of Transportation is remembering the lives of the 46 people who died when the Silver Bridge collapsed 53 years ago on Dec. 15, 1967. The bridge, that connected Point Pleasant, W.Va. to Gallipolis, OH, collapsed during rush hour traffic.
Where was the original Silver Bridge?
The original Silver Bridge spanned the Ohio River between Point Pleasant, WV. and Kanauga, Ohio. It was completed in 1928 and stood until its collapse on December 15, 1967.
How old is the Silver Bridge?
94Silver Bridge / Age (c. 1928)
Who was at fault for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?
The Board refused to blame any one person. The entire engineering profession was responsible, said the experts. They exonerated Leon Moisseiff.
How deep is the water under the Narrows bridge?
The water is over 200 feet deep. Swift, treacherous tides moving at over 8.5 miles per hour (12.5 feet per second) sweep through the channel four times a day. The piers would be the deepest ever constructed, almost double the previous world record set by the 1937 Golden Gate Bridge.
Was anyone killed in the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?
Tubby, Coatsworth's Cocker Spaniel, was the only fatality of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge disaster; he was lost along with Coatsworth's car. Professor Farquharson and a news photographer attempted to rescue Tubby during a lull, but the dog was too terrified to leave the car and bit one of the rescuers.
What was the worst bridge disaster?
Breadcrumb. Fifty years ago, on 15 October 1970, Australia's worst-ever industrial accident occurred when the West Gate Bridge collapsed into the Yarra River in Melbourne, killing 35 people.
What is the biggest bridge that collapsed?
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapses due to high winds on November 7, 1940.
Where was the most recent bridge collapse in the United States?
PittsburghBridge Collapse in Pittsburgh Injures at Least 10 People And the other span of the bridge. PITTSBURGH — In the City of Bridges, it was not a standout. The bridge, four lanes of Forbes Avenue raised on a steel frame over a picturesque wooded ravine, carried traffic to and from the neighborhoods on the city's East End.
What major bridge collapsed?
A bridge in the US city of Pittsburgh has collapsed with six vehicles, including a bus, on it at the time. Officials said 10 people sustained minor injuries, three of whom were taken to hospital. The snow-covered Forbes Avenue Bridge gave way on Friday morning, sometime after 06:00 local time (11:00 GMT).
When was the Silver Bridge made?
The Silver Bridge took one year to build and was opened on Memorial Day of 1928. The bridge was functional for nearly 40 years prior to its collapse.
What could have prevented the Silver Bridge collapse?
The Silver Bridge was built with technology that had never been used in the United States before. Had the eyebars been more thoroughly inspected on...
Where is the Silver Bridge located?
The Silver Bridge spanned from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to Ohio's Gallipolis area. The bridge crossed over the Ohio River and connected Ohio...
What caused the collapse of the Silver Bridge?
The collapse of the Silver Bridge was caused by a fracture in the metal of one of the eyebars. The metal was heat-treated for strength, and pins w...
What type of bridge is Silver Bridge?
The Silver Bridge was a suspension bridge. Suspension bridges have cables that transfer load-bearing to towers connected to the ground to keep the...
Overview
The Silver Bridge was an eyebar-chain suspension bridge built in 1928 and named for the color of its aluminum paint. The bridge carried U.S. Route 35 over the Ohio River, connecting Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and Gallipolis, Ohio.
On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed under the weight of rush-hour traffic, resulting in the deaths of 46 people. Two of the victims were never foun…
History of eyebar-chain bridge construction
Silver Bridge structure
Design loads
Wreckage analysis
Aftermath
Legacy
In popular culture