description Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) Overview
The 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge was a suspension bridge across the Tacoma Narrows of Puget Sound in Washington State. It opened to traffic on July 1, 1940, and collapsed on November 7 after wind-driven vertical and torsional oscillations grew until the deck failed. The event, filmed by observers, is used as a case study in bridge aerodynamics and illustrates the risks of designing a long, flexible suspension bridge without sufficient resistance to wind-induced motion. [Washington State Department of Transportation](https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/TNBhistory/)
help Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) FAQ
When did the Tacoma Narrows Bridge open?
The original Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened to traffic on July 1, 1940. It crossed the Tacoma Narrows of Puget Sound in Washington State.
When did the 1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?
The bridge collapsed on November 7, 1940, only a few months after opening. Wind-driven vertical and torsional motion grew until the suspended deck failed.
What caused the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse?
The collapse involved aerodynamic instability that produced strong torsional oscillations in the deck. The event became a classic civil-engineering case study in bridge design and wind effects.
Was the Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapse filmed?
Yes. The collapse was filmed, and the footage is widely used in engineering education. The surviving film shows the deck twisting dramatically before sections of the bridge fell into the water.
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