List of bridge failures
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:13:47 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of bridge failures.
Tables
· Before 1800
Milvian
Bridge
Milvian
Bridge
Bridge
Milvian
Bridge
Location
Rome
Country
Rome
Date
28 October 312
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden pontoon bridge replacing permanent stone bridge
Reason
Use by retreating Maxentian troops during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Bridge unusable
London
Bridge
London
Bridge
Bridge
London
Bridge
Location
London
Country
England
Date
17 October 1091
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden bridge
Reason
London tornado of 1091
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Bridge unusable
Sint Servaasbrug
Sint Servaasbrug
Bridge
Sint Servaasbrug
Location
Maastricht
Country
Holy Roman Empire
Date
1275
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden bridge
Reason
The weight of a large procession
Casualties
400
Damage
Bridge unusable
Judith bridge
Judith bridge
Bridge
Judith bridge
Location
Prague
Country
Kingdom of Bohemia
Date
2 February 1342
Construction type, use of bridge
Stone bridge
Reason
Severe flood
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Two-thirds of the 170 years old bridge collapsed or heavily damaged. One arch survived to this day. Charles Bridge was built next to its remains. Construction started in 1357 and ended in 1402.
Comments
Surviving arch of Judith bridge
Rialto
Bridge
Rialto
Bridge
Bridge
Rialto
Bridge
Location
Venice
Country
Venetian Republic
Date
1444
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden structure with central drawbridge.
Reason
Overload by spectators during a wedding
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Bridge total damage
| Bridge | Location | Country | Date | Construction type, use of bridge | Reason | Casualties | Damage | Comments |
| Milvian Bridge | Rome | Rome | 28 October 312 | Wooden pontoon bridge replacing permanent stone bridge | Use by retreating Maxentian troops during the Battle of the Milvian Bridge | Unknown | Bridge unusable | |
| London Bridge | London | England | 17 October 1091 | Wooden bridge | London tornado of 1091 | Unknown | Bridge unusable | |
| Sint Servaasbrug | Maastricht | Holy Roman Empire | 1275 | Wooden bridge | The weight of a large procession | 400 | Bridge unusable | |
| Judith bridge | Prague | Kingdom of Bohemia | 2 February 1342 | Stone bridge | Severe flood | Unknown | Two-thirds of the 170 years old bridge collapsed or heavily damaged. One arch survived to this day. Charles Bridge was built next to its remains. Construction started in 1357 and ended in 1402. | Surviving arch of Judith bridge |
| Rialto Bridge | Venice | Venetian Republic | 1444 | Wooden structure with central drawbridge. | Overload by spectators during a wedding | Unknown | Bridge total damage |
· 1800–1899
Eitai Bridge (Eitai-bashi)
Eitai Bridge (Eitai-bashi)
Bridge
Eitai Bridge (Eitai-bashi)
Location
Tokyo (Edo)
Country
Japan
Date
20 September 1807 (Lunisolar 19 August)
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden beam bridge over River Sumida
Reason
Overloaded by festival
Casualties
500–2000 killed
Damage
1 pier and 2 spans destroyed
Comments
Edo-Tokyo Museum
Ponte das Barcas
Ponte das Barcas
Bridge
Ponte das Barcas
Location
Porto
Country
Portugal
Date
29 March 1809
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden pontoon bridge over River Douro
Reason
Overloaded by thousands of people fleeing a bayonet charge of French Imperial Army led by Marshal Soult during the First Battle of Porto
Casualties
4000 killed
Damage
Several spans destroyed. Bridge reconstructed, dismantled in 1843
Saalebrücke bei Mönchen-Nienburg
Saalebrücke bei Mönchen-Nienburg
Bridge
Saalebrücke bei Mönchen-Nienburg
Location
Nienburg, Saxony-Anhalt
Country
Germany
Date
6 December 1825
Construction type, use of bridge
Chain-stayed bridge with small bascule section
Reason
Poor materials, unbalanced load and vibrations by subjects singing to honour the duke
Casualties
55 drowned or frozen to death
Damage
Bridge half damaged, other side demolished
Broughton Suspension Bridge
Broughton Suspension Bridge
Bridge
Broughton Suspension Bridge
Location
Broughton, Greater Manchester
Country
England
Date
12 April 1831
Construction type, use of bridge
Suspension bridge over River Irwell
Reason
Bolt snapped due to mechanical resonance caused by marching soldiers
Casualties
0 dead, 20 injured
Damage
Collapsed at one end, bridge quickly rebuilt and strengthened
Comments
The rebuilt Broughton Suspension Bridge in 1883. This disaster caused the "break step" rule issued to UK soldiers.
Yarmouth suspension bridge
Yarmouth suspension bridge
Bridge
Yarmouth suspension bridge
Location
Great Yarmouth
Country
England
Date
2 May 1845
Construction type, use of bridge
Suspension bridge
Reason
Spectators crowded the bridge over the River Bure to view a clown travel the river in a barrel. Their position shifted as the barrel passed; the suspension chains snapped and the bridge deck tipped over.
Casualties
79 people drowned, mainly children.
Damage
Suspension chains snapped due to overload.
Comments
Contemporary illustration of the aftermath of the collapse
Dee Bridge
Dee Bridge
Bridge
Dee Bridge
Location
Chester
Country
England
Date
24 May 1847
Construction type, use of bridge
Cast iron beam bridge over the River Dee
Reason
Overload by passenger train on faulty structure
Casualties
5 killed
Damage
Bridge rendered unusable
Comments
The Dee bridge after its collapse. The failure was due to faulty design.
Ness Bridge
Ness Bridge
Bridge
Ness Bridge
Location
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Date
1849
Construction type, use of bridge
Stone Bridge over River Ness
Reason
Flooding overwhelmed the 164-year-old bridge
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Either completely destroyed or damaged beyond repair
Comments
Rebuilt as a suspension bridge, which itself was replaced in 1961 due to inability to handle increased traffic.
Angers Bridge
Angers Bridge
Bridge
Angers Bridge
Location
Angers
Country
France
Date
16 April 1850
Construction type, use of bridge
Suspension bridge over Maine River
Reason
Wind and possibly resonance of soldiers led to collapse
Casualties
226 killed, unknown injured
Damage
Bridge total damage
Comments
The Angers Bridge after its collapse
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Bridge
Wheeling Suspension Bridge
Location
Wheeling, West Virginia (then Virginia)
Country
United States
Date
17 May 1854
Construction type, use of bridge
Suspension bridge carrying the National Road over the Ohio River
Reason
Torsional movement and vertical undulations caused by wind
Casualties
No casualties
Damage
Deck destroyed; towers left intact and remain in use today
Gasconade Bridge
Gasconade Bridge
Bridge
Gasconade Bridge
Location
Gasconade, Missouri
Country
United States
Date
1 November 1855
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden rail bridge
Reason
Inaugural train run conducted before temporary trestle work was replaced by permanent structure
Casualties
31 killed, hundreds injured
Damage
Span from anchorage to first pier destroyed
Desjardins Canal Bridge
Desjardins Canal Bridge
Bridge
Desjardins Canal Bridge
Location
Dundas, Ontario
Country
Canada
Date
12 March 1857
Construction type, use of bridge
Rail bridge
Reason
Mechanical force due to broken locomotive front axle. Desjardins Canal disaster ensued.
Casualties
59 killed
Sauquoit Creek Bridge
Sauquoit Creek Bridge
Bridge
Sauquoit Creek Bridge
Location
Whitesboro, New York
Country
United States
Date
11 May 1858
Construction type, use of bridge
Railroad trestle
Reason
Weight (two trains on the same trestle)
Casualties
9 killed, 55 injured
Springbrook Bridge
Springbrook Bridge
Bridge
Springbrook Bridge
Location
Between Mishawaka and South Bend, Indiana
Country
United States
Date
27 June 1859
Construction type, use of bridge
Railroad embankment bridge
Reason
Washout
Casualties
41 killed (some accounts of 60 to 70)
Comments
Known as the Great Mishawaka Train Wreck or the South Bend train wreck
Bull Bridge
Bull Bridge
Bridge
Bull Bridge
Location
Ambergate
Country
England
Date
26 September 1860
Construction type, use of bridge
Cast iron rail bridge
Reason
Cast iron beam cracked and failed under weight of freight train
Casualties
0 killed 0 injured
Damage
Total collapse of bridge
Comments
Section of broken girder
Wootton Bridge
Wootton Bridge
Bridge
Wootton Bridge
Location
Wootton
Country
England
Date
11 June 1861
Construction type, use of bridge
Cast iron rail bridge
Reason
Cast iron beams cracked and failed
Casualties
2 killed
Damage
Total damage to floor
Comments
Wootton Bridge crash, caused by a flawed design & unreliable cast iron, failed from a repair
Platte Bridge
Platte Bridge
Bridge
Platte Bridge
Location
St. Joseph, Missouri
Country
United States
Date
3 September 1861
Reason
Sabotage by Confederate partisans during US Civil War.
Casualties
17–20 killed, 100 injured
Chunky Creek Bridge
Chunky Creek Bridge
Bridge
Chunky Creek Bridge
Location
near Hickory, Mississippi
Country
United States
Date
1863
Reason
Debris build-up from winter flood shifted the bridge trestle.
Rail bridge
Rail bridge
Bridge
Rail bridge
Location
New Hamburg, New York
Country
United States
Date
6 February 1871
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden trestle with drawbridge in center
Reason
Fire following explosion caused by train collision with derailed train
Casualties
22 killed
Damage
Drawbridge collapsed into creek
Comments
1871 New Hamburg rail disaster
Train bridge
Train bridge
Bridge
Train bridge
Location
Wood River Junction, RI
Country
United States
Date
19 April 1873
Reason
Washaway
Casualties
7 killed, 20 injured
Comments
Railroad Disaster at Meadow Brook, Rhode Island
Dixon Bridge (aka Truesdell Bridge)
Dixon Bridge (aka Truesdell Bridge)
Bridge
Dixon Bridge (aka Truesdell Bridge)
Location
Dixon, Illinois
Country
United States
Date
4 May 1873
Construction type, use of bridge
Iron vehicular bridge (for pedestrians and carriages) over the Rock River
Reason
Large crowd assembled on one side to view baptism ceremony; bridge design flaw
Casualties
46 killed 56 injured
Damage
Bridge was a total loss
Comments
The collapse of the Dixon (Ill.) Truesdell Bridge, May 4, 1873.
Portage Bridge
Portage Bridge
Bridge
Portage Bridge
Location
Portageville, New York
Country
United States
Date
5 May 1875
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden beam bridge over the Genesee River
Reason
Fire
Casualties
0 killed 0 injured
Damage
Bridge was a total loss
Comments
Fire destroyed all but the concrete abutments
Ashtabula River Railroad Bridge
Ashtabula River Railroad Bridge
Bridge
Ashtabula River Railroad Bridge
Location
Ashtabula, Ohio
Country
United States
Date
29 December 1876
Construction type, use of bridge
Wrought iron truss bridge
Reason
Possible fatigue failure of cast iron elements
Casualties
92 killed, 64 injured
Damage
Bridge total damage
Comments
Ashtabula bridge disaster
Tay Rail Bridge
Tay Rail Bridge
Bridge
Tay Rail Bridge
Location
Dundee
Country
Scotland
Date
28 December 1879
Construction type, use of bridge
Continuous girder bridge, wrought iron framework on cast iron columns, railway bridge
Reason
Faulty design, construction and maintenance, structural deterioration and wind load
Casualties
75 killed (60 known dead), no survivors
Damage
Bridge unusable, girders partly reused, train damaged
Comments
Fallen Tay Bridge. Locomotive was saved from the Tay and was still in use 19 years later; known as "The Diver".
Honey Creek Rail Trestle
Honey Creek Rail Trestle
Bridge
Honey Creek Rail Trestle
Location
Boone County, Iowa
Country
United States
Date
6 July 1881
Construction type, use of bridge
Railroad trestle
Reason
Flash flood washed out timbers supporting trestle
Casualties
2 killed (one body never recovered)
Damage
Bridge rebuilt
Comments
Kate Shelley, who lived nearby, was able to warn the railroad to stop an oncoming passenger train.
Inverythan Rail Bridge
Inverythan Rail Bridge
Bridge
Inverythan Rail Bridge
Location
Aberdeenshire
Country
Scotland
Date
27 November 1882
Construction type, use of bridge
Cast iron girder rail bridge
Reason
Hidden defects in cast iron caused collapse as train passed
Casualties
5 killed, 17 injured
Damage
Bridge rebuilt
Comments
Crash scene after the accident. The Board of Trade issued warning about similar under-bridges.
Little Silver
Little Silver
Bridge
Little Silver
Location
New Jersey
Country
United States
Date
30 June 1882
Construction type, use of bridge
Trestle railway bridge
Reason
Train derailment due to insecure railroad switch on the northbound side of the bridge.
Casualties
3 killed, 65+ injured
Damage
Estimated $15,000 worth of damage to the bridge and cars combined. Bridge was repaired.
Comments
Several rail cars derailed and fell off the bridge into Parker's Creek. Ulysses S. Grant was a passenger.
Osijek railway bridge
Osijek railway bridge
Bridge
Osijek railway bridge
Location
Osijek
Country
Hungary / Croatia border
Date
23 September 1882
Construction type, use of bridge
Railway bridge
Reason
Bridge collapsed into the flooding Drava river under the weight of a train
Casualties
28
Damage
Washout by flood
Collapsed wooden bridge later replaced by iron bridge.
Camberwell Bridge
Camberwell Bridge
Bridge
Camberwell Bridge
Location
London
Country
England
Date
15 May 1884
Construction type, use of bridge
Cast iron trough girder bridge over railway
Reason
Hidden defects in cast iron caused collapse of four girders
Casualties
0 killed, 1 injured
Damage
Bridge rebuilt
Bussey Bridge
Bussey Bridge
Bridge
Bussey Bridge
Location
Boston
Country
United States
Date
14 March 1887
Construction type, use of bridge
Iron railroad bridge collapses under train
Reason
Poor design and maintenance
Casualties
23 killed, 100+ injured
Damage
Bridge rebuilt
Comments
A drawing of the collapsed bridge.
Big Four Bridge
Big Four Bridge
Bridge
Big Four Bridge
Location
Louisville, Kentucky
Country
United States
Date
10 October 1888
Construction type, use of bridge
Caisson and truss
Casualties
12 died when caisson flooded,
4 died when beam broke,
21 died when truss fell into river
Conemaugh Viaduct
Conemaugh Viaduct
Bridge
Conemaugh Viaduct
Location
Upriver from Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Country
United States
Date
31 May 1889
Construction type, use of bridge
Stone,78-foot (24 m) high railroad bridge
Reason
Washed away by the Johnstown Flood
Casualties
0
Damage
total loss
Comments
Main article: Johnstown Flood
Norwood Junction Rail Bridge
Norwood Junction Rail Bridge
Bridge
Norwood Junction Rail Bridge
Location
London
Country
England
Date
1 May 1891
Construction type, use of bridge
Cast iron girder fails under passing train
Reason
Hidden defects in cast iron caused collapse
Casualties
0 killed, 1 injured
Damage
Bridge rebuilt
Münchenstein Rail Bridge
Münchenstein Rail Bridge
Bridge
Münchenstein Rail Bridge
Location
Münchenstein
Country
Switzerland
Date
14 June 1891
Construction type, use of bridge
Wrought iron truss
Reason
Train falls through centre of bridge
Casualties
71 killed, 171 injured
Comments
The railway bridge collapsed under a heavy train loaded with more than 500 passengers; more than 70 were killed.
Chester rail bridge
Chester rail bridge
Bridge
Chester rail bridge
Location
Chester, Massachusetts
Country
United States
Date
31 August 1893
Construction type, use of bridge
Lattice truss bridge
Reason
Removed rivets caused bridge to collapse under the weight of a train
Casualties
14 killed
Point Ellice Bridge
Point Ellice Bridge
Bridge
Point Ellice Bridge
Location
Victoria, British Columbia
Country
Canada
Date
26 May 1896
Reason
Overloaded tram car collapses central span
Casualties
47/53/50–60 killed (reports vary)
Maddur railway bridge collapse
Maddur railway bridge collapse
Bridge
Maddur railway bridge collapse
Location
Maddur
Country
India
Date
2 October 1897
Reason
River in flood
Casualties
150 drowned
Damage
AA
| Bridge | Location | Country | Date | Construction type, use of bridge | Reason | Casualties | Damage | Comments |
| Eitai Bridge (Eitai-bashi) | Tokyo (Edo) | Japan | 20 September 1807 (Lunisolar 19 August) | Wooden beam bridge over River Sumida | Overloaded by festival | 500–2000 killed | 1 pier and 2 spans destroyed | Edo-Tokyo Museum |
| Ponte das Barcas | Porto | Portugal | 29 March 1809 | Wooden pontoon bridge over River Douro | Overloaded by thousands of people fleeing a bayonet charge of French Imperial Army led by Marshal Soult during the First Battle of Porto | 4000 killed | Several spans destroyed. Bridge reconstructed, dismantled in 1843 | |
| Saalebrücke bei Mönchen-Nienburg | Nienburg, Saxony-Anhalt | Germany | 6 December 1825 | Chain-stayed bridge with small bascule section | Poor materials, unbalanced load and vibrations by subjects singing to honour the duke | 55 drowned or frozen to death | Bridge half damaged, other side demolished | |
| Broughton Suspension Bridge | Broughton, Greater Manchester | England | 12 April 1831 | Suspension bridge over River Irwell | Bolt snapped due to mechanical resonance caused by marching soldiers | 0 dead, 20 injured | Collapsed at one end, bridge quickly rebuilt and strengthened | The rebuilt Broughton Suspension Bridge in 1883. This disaster caused the "break step" rule issued to UK soldiers. |
| Yarmouth suspension bridge | Great Yarmouth | England | 2 May 1845 | Suspension bridge | Spectators crowded the bridge over the River Bure to view a clown travel the river in a barrel. Their position shifted as the barrel passed; the suspension chains snapped and the bridge deck tipped over. | 79 people drowned, mainly children. | Suspension chains snapped due to overload. | Contemporary illustration of the aftermath of the collapse |
| Dee Bridge | Chester | England | 24 May 1847 | Cast iron beam bridge over the River Dee | Overload by passenger train on faulty structure | 5 killed | Bridge rendered unusable | The Dee bridge after its collapse. The failure was due to faulty design. |
| Ness Bridge | Inverness | Scotland | 1849 | Stone Bridge over River Ness | Flooding overwhelmed the 164-year-old bridge | Unknown | Either completely destroyed or damaged beyond repair | Rebuilt as a suspension bridge, which itself was replaced in 1961 due to inability to handle increased traffic. |
| Angers Bridge | Angers | France | 16 April 1850 | Suspension bridge over Maine River | Wind and possibly resonance of soldiers led to collapse | 226 killed, unknown injured | Bridge total damage | The Angers Bridge after its collapse |
| Wheeling Suspension Bridge | Wheeling, West Virginia (then Virginia) | United States | 17 May 1854 | Suspension bridge carrying the National Road over the Ohio River | Torsional movement and vertical undulations caused by wind | No casualties | Deck destroyed; towers left intact and remain in use today | |
| Gasconade Bridge | Gasconade, Missouri | United States | 1 November 1855 | Wooden rail bridge | Inaugural train run conducted before temporary trestle work was replaced by permanent structure | 31 killed, hundreds injured | Span from anchorage to first pier destroyed | |
| Desjardins Canal Bridge | Dundas, Ontario | Canada | 12 March 1857 | Rail bridge | Mechanical force due to broken locomotive front axle. Desjardins Canal disaster ensued. | 59 killed | ||
| Sauquoit Creek Bridge | Whitesboro, New York | United States | 11 May 1858 | Railroad trestle | Weight (two trains on the same trestle) | 9 killed, 55 injured | ||
| Springbrook Bridge | Between Mishawaka and South Bend, Indiana | United States | 27 June 1859 | Railroad embankment bridge | Washout | 41 killed (some accounts of 60 to 70) | Known as the Great Mishawaka Train Wreck or the South Bend train wreck | |
| Bull Bridge | Ambergate | England | 26 September 1860 | Cast iron rail bridge | Cast iron beam cracked and failed under weight of freight train | 0 killed 0 injured | Total collapse of bridge | Section of broken girder |
| Wootton Bridge | Wootton | England | 11 June 1861 | Cast iron rail bridge | Cast iron beams cracked and failed | 2 killed | Total damage to floor | Wootton Bridge crash, caused by a flawed design & unreliable cast iron, failed from a repair |
| Platte Bridge | St. Joseph, Missouri | United States | 3 September 1861 | Sabotage by Confederate partisans during US Civil War. | 17–20 killed, 100 injured | |||
| Chunky Creek Bridge | near Hickory, Mississippi | United States | 1863 | Debris build-up from winter flood shifted the bridge trestle. | ||||
| Rail bridge | New Hamburg, New York | United States | 6 February 1871 | Wooden trestle with drawbridge in center | Fire following explosion caused by train collision with derailed train | 22 killed | Drawbridge collapsed into creek | 1871 New Hamburg rail disaster |
| Train bridge | Wood River Junction, RI | United States | 19 April 1873 | Washaway | 7 killed, 20 injured | Railroad Disaster at Meadow Brook, Rhode Island | ||
| Dixon Bridge (aka Truesdell Bridge) | Dixon, Illinois | United States | 4 May 1873 | Iron vehicular bridge (for pedestrians and carriages) over the Rock River | Large crowd assembled on one side to view baptism ceremony; bridge design flaw | 46 killed 56 injured | Bridge was a total loss | The collapse of the Dixon (Ill.) Truesdell Bridge, May 4, 1873. |
| Portage Bridge | Portageville, New York | United States | 5 May 1875 | Wooden beam bridge over the Genesee River | Fire | 0 killed 0 injured | Bridge was a total loss | Fire destroyed all but the concrete abutments |
| Ashtabula River Railroad Bridge | Ashtabula, Ohio | United States | 29 December 1876 | Wrought iron truss bridge | Possible fatigue failure of cast iron elements | 92 killed, 64 injured | Bridge total damage | Ashtabula bridge disaster |
| Tay Rail Bridge | Dundee | Scotland | 28 December 1879 | Continuous girder bridge, wrought iron framework on cast iron columns, railway bridge | Faulty design, construction and maintenance, structural deterioration and wind load | 75 killed (60 known dead), no survivors | Bridge unusable, girders partly reused, train damaged | Fallen Tay Bridge. Locomotive was saved from the Tay and was still in use 19 years later; known as "The Diver". |
| Honey Creek Rail Trestle | Boone County, Iowa | United States | 6 July 1881 | Railroad trestle | Flash flood washed out timbers supporting trestle | 2 killed (one body never recovered) | Bridge rebuilt | Kate Shelley, who lived nearby, was able to warn the railroad to stop an oncoming passenger train. |
| Inverythan Rail Bridge | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | 27 November 1882 | Cast iron girder rail bridge | Hidden defects in cast iron caused collapse as train passed | 5 killed, 17 injured | Bridge rebuilt | Crash scene after the accident. The Board of Trade issued warning about similar under-bridges. |
| Little Silver | New Jersey | United States | 30 June 1882 | Trestle railway bridge | Train derailment due to insecure railroad switch on the northbound side of the bridge. | 3 killed, 65+ injured | Estimated $15,000 worth of damage to the bridge and cars combined. Bridge was repaired. | Several rail cars derailed and fell off the bridge into Parker's Creek. Ulysses S. Grant was a passenger. |
| Osijek railway bridge | Osijek | Hungary / Croatia border | 23 September 1882 | Railway bridge | Bridge collapsed into the flooding Drava river under the weight of a train | 28 | Washout by flood Collapsed wooden bridge later replaced by iron bridge. | |
| Camberwell Bridge | London | England | 15 May 1884 | Cast iron trough girder bridge over railway | Hidden defects in cast iron caused collapse of four girders | 0 killed, 1 injured | Bridge rebuilt | |
| Bussey Bridge | Boston | United States | 14 March 1887 | Iron railroad bridge collapses under train | Poor design and maintenance | 23 killed, 100+ injured | Bridge rebuilt | A drawing of the collapsed bridge. |
| Big Four Bridge | Louisville, Kentucky | United States | 10 October 1888 | Caisson and truss | 12 died when caisson flooded, 4 died when beam broke, 21 died when truss fell into river | |||
| Conemaugh Viaduct | Upriver from Johnstown, Pennsylvania | United States | 31 May 1889 | Stone,78-foot (24 m) high railroad bridge | Washed away by the Johnstown Flood | 0 | total loss | Main article: Johnstown Flood |
| Norwood Junction Rail Bridge | London | England | 1 May 1891 | Cast iron girder fails under passing train | Hidden defects in cast iron caused collapse | 0 killed, 1 injured | Bridge rebuilt | |
| Münchenstein Rail Bridge | Münchenstein | Switzerland | 14 June 1891 | Wrought iron truss | Train falls through centre of bridge | 71 killed, 171 injured | The railway bridge collapsed under a heavy train loaded with more than 500 passengers; more than 70 were killed. | |
| Chester rail bridge | Chester, Massachusetts | United States | 31 August 1893 | Lattice truss bridge | Removed rivets caused bridge to collapse under the weight of a train | 14 killed | ||
| Point Ellice Bridge | Victoria, British Columbia | Canada | 26 May 1896 | Overloaded tram car collapses central span | 47/53/50–60 killed (reports vary) | |||
| Maddur railway bridge collapse | Maddur | India | 2 October 1897 | River in flood | 150 drowned | AA |
· 1900–1949
Dry Creek Bridge
Dry Creek Bridge
Bridge
Dry Creek Bridge
Location
Eden, Colorado
Country
United States
Date
7 August 1904
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden railway bridge
Reason
Sudden washout
Casualties
111 killed, unknown injured
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed
Egyptian Bridge
Egyptian Bridge
Bridge
Egyptian Bridge
Location
Saint Petersburg
Country
Russian Empire
Date
20 January 1905
Construction type, use of bridge
Stone suspension bridge
Reason
Disputed
Casualties
0 killed, 0 injured
Damage
Bridge rebuilt
Comments
The collapsed bridge
Portage Canal Swing Bridge
Portage Canal Swing Bridge
Bridge
Portage Canal Swing Bridge
Location
Houghton, Michigan
Country
United States
Date
15 April 1905
Construction type, use of bridge
Steel swing bridge
Reason
Swing span struck by the steamer Northern Wave.
Casualties
0 killed, 0 injured
Damage
Swing span rebuilt.
Comments
The damaged bridge. It was replaced by the Portage Lake Lift Bridge.
Cimarron River Rail Crossing
Cimarron River Rail Crossing
Bridge
Cimarron River Rail Crossing
Location
Dover, Oklahoma Territory
Country
United States
Date
18 September 1906
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden railroad trestle
Reason
Washed out under pressure from debris during high water
Casualties
4-100+ killed
Damage
Entire span lost; rebuilt
Comments
Bridge was to be temporary, but replacement was delayed for financial reasons. Number of deaths is uncertain; estimates range from 4 to over 100.
Quebec Bridge
Quebec Bridge
Bridge
Quebec Bridge
Location
Quebec City
Country
Canada
Date
29 August 1907
Construction type, use of bridge
Cantilever bridge, steel framework, railway bridge
Reason
Collapsed during construction: design error, bridge unable to support own weight
Casualties
75 killed, 11 injured
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed.
Comments
Redesigned, and rebuilding continued through the 2nd partial collapse in 1916 (see below)
Romanov Bridge
Romanov Bridge
Bridge
Romanov Bridge
Location
now Zelenodolsk, Republic of Tatarstan
Country
Russian Empire
Date
22 November 1911
Construction type, use of bridge
Railway bridge across the Volga River
Reason
Collapsed during construction: ice slip undermined scaffolding
Casualties
13 confirmed killed, ~200 missing
Damage
Scaffold with workers fell on the ice, causing many to drown
Comments
Bridge was completed later. "Romanovsky" rail bridge, renamed Red Bridge after the revolution, designed by Nikolai Belelubsky was built in 1913.
Baddengorm Burn
Baddengorm Burn
Bridge
Baddengorm Burn
Location
Carrbridge, Highlands
Country
Scotland
Date
18 June 1914
Reason
Collapsed underneath train due to heavy rainfall and debris build-up from a road bridge wiped out further upstream
Casualties
5 drowned, unknown injured
Damage
Complete loss, one railway carriage destroyed
Comments
Rebuilt with a longer, concrete span.
Division Street Bridge
Division Street Bridge
Bridge
Division Street Bridge
Location
Spokane, Washington
Country
United States
Date
18 December 1915
Construction type, use of bridge
Steel framework, trolley car bridge
Reason
Collapsed a week after being resurfaced; poor steel, metal fatigue, and a previous impact by another bridge swept downstream during a flood
Casualties
5–7 killed, 10 injured
Damage
Complete loss, plus two trolley cars destroyed
Comments
Replaced by a 3-vault concrete span
Quebec Bridge
Quebec Bridge
Bridge
Quebec Bridge
Location
Quebec City
Country
Canada
Date
11 September 1916
Construction type, use of bridge
Cantilever bridge, steel framework, railway bridge
Reason
Central span slipped whilst being hoisted in place due to contractor error
Casualties
11 killed, unknown injured
Damage
Central span dropped into the river, where it still lies today
Comments
Rebuilt and opened in December 1919 after almost two decades of construction.
Grand Avenue Bridge
Grand Avenue Bridge
Bridge
Grand Avenue Bridge
Location
Neillsville, Wisconsin
Country
United States
Date
2 August 1920
Construction type, use of bridge
Steel overhead truss bridge, vehicular traffic
Reason
Believed weakened by heavy trucks hauling shale in prior months
Casualties
1 killed, 0 injured
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed.
Comments
Replaced by concrete bridge the following year.
Greenfield Bridge
Greenfield Bridge
Bridge
Greenfield Bridge
Location
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Country
United States
Date
18 June 1921
Construction type, use of bridge
Wooden road bridge
Reason
Collapsed
Casualties
0 killed, 0 injured
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed
Comments
Bridge had been closed to vehicular traffic due to structural weakness but was still used by pedestrians. Replaced with a new bridge in 1923.
Bridge
Bridge
Bridge
Bridge
Location
Jalón
Country
Spain
Date
22 November 1927
Reason
Bridge failed during passage of funeral procession
Casualties
100 thrown into water
Kärevere Bridge
Kärevere Bridge
Bridge
Kärevere Bridge
Location
Kärevere
Country
Estonia
Date
14 December 1928
Construction type, use of bridge
48 m triple span beam bridge with reinforced concrete deck, motorway bridge over the Suur-Emajõgi river
Reason
Newly built bridge failed two days after commission accepted it (before opening for traffic), because of insufficient cement in concrete and design flaws
Casualties
No casualties.
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed.
Fremantle Railway Bridge
Fremantle Railway Bridge
Bridge
Fremantle Railway Bridge
Location
Fremantle, Western Australia
Country
Australia
Date
22 July 1926
Reason
Flood
Casualties
0 killed, 0 injured
Comments
Load testing in 1926 on the repaired section of the bridge.
Proposed replacement by combined road and railway bridge.
Seta River Bridge
Seta River Bridge
Bridge
Seta River Bridge
Location
Otsu
Country
Japan
Date
21 September 1934
Reason
Typhoon
Casualties
11 killed, 216 injured
Comments
An express train derailed by the Muroto Typhoon on the Seta River Bridge, September 1934
Appomattox River Drawbridge
Appomattox River Drawbridge
Bridge
Appomattox River Drawbridge
Location
Hopewell, Virginia
Country
United States
Date
22 December 1935
Reason
Bus drove across the open drawbridge.
Casualties
14 killed
Falling Creek Bridge
Falling Creek Bridge
Bridge
Falling Creek Bridge
Location
Chesterfield County, Virginia
Country
United States
Date
1 September 1936
Construction type, use of bridge
Wood and steel.
Reason
Truck crossing the bridge struck a tie rod causing collapse. One truck fell 15 feet to the creek bed, a second escaped to safety.
Casualties
4 killed, 5 injured
Kasai River Bridge
Kasai River Bridge
Bridge
Kasai River Bridge
Location
Kasaï
Country
Belgian Congo
Date
12 September 1937
Construction type, use of bridge
Railway bridge
Reason
While under construction.
Comments
Began in 1935; construction never resumed.
Honeymoon Bridge (Upper Steel Arch Bridge)
Honeymoon Bridge (Upper Steel Arch Bridge)
Bridge
Honeymoon Bridge (Upper Steel Arch Bridge)
Location
Niagara Falls, New York – Niagara Falls, Ontario
Country
United States – Canada
Date
27 January 1938
Construction type, use of bridge
Steel arch road bridge
Reason
Ice jam in gorge pushed bridge off foundations
Casualties
0 killed, 0 injured
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed
Comments
Replaced in 1941 by the Rainbow Bridge
Sandö Bridge
Sandö Bridge
Bridge
Sandö Bridge
Location
Kramfors, Ångermanland
Country
Sweden
Date
31 August 1939
Construction type, use of bridge
Concrete arch bridge
Reason
Collapsed during construction
Casualties
18 killed
Damage
Complete loss of the main span
Comments
Received minimal media attention as WWII began the next day. The bridge was finished in 1943 as the longest concrete arch bridge in the world until 1964.
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Bridge
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Location
Tacoma, Washington
Country
United States
Date
7 November 1940
Construction type, use of bridge
Road bridge, cable suspension with plate girder deck
Reason
Aerodynamically poor design resulted in aeroelastic flutter
Casualties
0 killed, 0 injured (1 dog killed)
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed, no persons killed. One dog killed and three vehicles lost.
Comments
Became known as "Galloping Gertie", in the first 4 months after opening up until its collapse under aeroelastic flutter. Most major new bridges are now modelled in wind tunnels.
Rebuilt in 1950; parallel span opened in 2007.
Theodor Heuss Bridge
Theodor Heuss Bridge
Bridge
Theodor Heuss Bridge
Location
Ludwigshafen
Country
Germany
Date
12 December 1940
Construction type, use of bridge
Bridge of concrete, Motorway bridge
Reason
Collapsed during construction
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Bridge completely destroyed
Comments
Resulted in delay in completion of the motorway crossing of the Rhine until 1953
Chesapeake City Bridge
Chesapeake City Bridge
Bridge
Chesapeake City Bridge
Location
Chesapeake City, Maryland
Country
United States
Date
28 July 1942
Construction type, use of bridge
Road bridge, vertical lift drawbridge
Reason
Tanker Franz Klasen rammed the movable bridge supports, causing collapse
Casualties
Unknown
Damage
Central span completely destroyed
Comments
Bridge replaced by high-level tied-arch bridge in 1949
Deutz Suspension Bridge
Deutz Suspension Bridge
Bridge
Deutz Suspension Bridge
Location
Cologne
Country
Germany
Date
28 February 1945
Construction type, use of bridge
Suspension road bridge
Reason
collapsed during repair work
Casualties
unknown count of people killed
Damage
Total destruction
Ludendorff Bridge
Ludendorff Bridge
Bridge
Ludendorff Bridge
Location
Remagen
Country
Germany
Date
17 March 1945
Construction type, use of bridge
Truss railroad and pedestrian bridge
Reason
Battle damage incurred 7 March 1945
Casualties
28 killed, 93 injured
Damage
Total destruction
Comments
Ludendorff Bridge on March 17, 1945, after the collapse
John P. Grace Memorial Bridge
John P. Grace Memorial Bridge
Bridge
John P. Grace Memorial Bridge
Location
Charleston, South Carolina
Country
United States
Date
24 February 1946
Construction type, use of bridge
Steel cantilever truss automobile bridge
Reason
Three spans collapsed due to collision by the freighter Nicaragua Victory
Casualties
5 killed
Comments
Three collapsed spans 240 feet (73 m) were replaced and stood until 2005 when the bridge was closed following the opening of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
Inotani Wire Bridge
Inotani Wire Bridge
Bridge
Inotani Wire Bridge
Location
Toyama
Country
Japan
Date
22 September 1949
Casualties
29 killed
Comments
Around 150 professors and educators from schools in the prefecture were in the area for a geological survey when a bolt bent and the suspension bridge collapsed, sending 33 people down into the Jinzu River. 29 people were killed or went missing and 4 people were injured.
| Bridge | Location | Country | Date | Construction type, use of bridge | Reason | Casualties | Damage | Comments |
| Dry Creek Bridge | Eden, Colorado | United States | 7 August 1904 | Wooden railway bridge | Sudden washout | 111 killed, unknown injured | Bridge completely destroyed | |
| Egyptian Bridge | Saint Petersburg | Russian Empire | 20 January 1905 | Stone suspension bridge | Disputed | 0 killed, 0 injured | Bridge rebuilt | The collapsed bridge |
| Portage Canal Swing Bridge | Houghton, Michigan | United States | 15 April 1905 | Steel swing bridge | Swing span struck by the steamer Northern Wave. | 0 killed, 0 injured | Swing span rebuilt. | The damaged bridge. It was replaced by the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. |
| Cimarron River Rail Crossing | Dover, Oklahoma Territory | United States | 18 September 1906 | Wooden railroad trestle | Washed out under pressure from debris during high water | 4-100+ killed | Entire span lost; rebuilt | Bridge was to be temporary, but replacement was delayed for financial reasons. Number of deaths is uncertain; estimates range from 4 to over 100. |
| Quebec Bridge | Quebec City | Canada | 29 August 1907 | Cantilever bridge, steel framework, railway bridge | Collapsed during construction: design error, bridge unable to support own weight | 75 killed, 11 injured | Bridge completely destroyed. | Redesigned, and rebuilding continued through the 2nd partial collapse in 1916 (see below) |
| Romanov Bridge | now Zelenodolsk, Republic of Tatarstan | Russian Empire | 22 November 1911 | Railway bridge across the Volga River | Collapsed during construction: ice slip undermined scaffolding | 13 confirmed killed, ~200 missing | Scaffold with workers fell on the ice, causing many to drown | Bridge was completed later. "Romanovsky" rail bridge, renamed Red Bridge after the revolution, designed by Nikolai Belelubsky was built in 1913. |
| Baddengorm Burn | Carrbridge, Highlands | Scotland | 18 June 1914 | Collapsed underneath train due to heavy rainfall and debris build-up from a road bridge wiped out further upstream | 5 drowned, unknown injured | Complete loss, one railway carriage destroyed | Rebuilt with a longer, concrete span. | |
| Division Street Bridge | Spokane, Washington | United States | 18 December 1915 | Steel framework, trolley car bridge | Collapsed a week after being resurfaced; poor steel, metal fatigue, and a previous impact by another bridge swept downstream during a flood | 5–7 killed, 10 injured | Complete loss, plus two trolley cars destroyed | Replaced by a 3-vault concrete span |
| Quebec Bridge | Quebec City | Canada | 11 September 1916 | Cantilever bridge, steel framework, railway bridge | Central span slipped whilst being hoisted in place due to contractor error | 11 killed, unknown injured | Central span dropped into the river, where it still lies today | Rebuilt and opened in December 1919 after almost two decades of construction. |
| Grand Avenue Bridge | Neillsville, Wisconsin | United States | 2 August 1920 | Steel overhead truss bridge, vehicular traffic | Believed weakened by heavy trucks hauling shale in prior months | 1 killed, 0 injured | Bridge completely destroyed. | Replaced by concrete bridge the following year. |
| Greenfield Bridge | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | United States | 18 June 1921 | Wooden road bridge | Collapsed | 0 killed, 0 injured | Bridge completely destroyed | Bridge had been closed to vehicular traffic due to structural weakness but was still used by pedestrians. Replaced with a new bridge in 1923. |
| Bridge | Jalón | Spain | 22 November 1927 | Bridge failed during passage of funeral procession | 100 thrown into water | |||
| Kärevere Bridge | Kärevere | Estonia | 14 December 1928 | 48 m triple span beam bridge with reinforced concrete deck, motorway bridge over the Suur-Emajõgi river | Newly built bridge failed two days after commission accepted it (before opening for traffic), because of insufficient cement in concrete and design flaws | No casualties. | Bridge completely destroyed. | |
| Fremantle Railway Bridge | Fremantle, Western Australia | Australia | 22 July 1926 | Flood | 0 killed, 0 injured | Load testing in 1926 on the repaired section of the bridge. Proposed replacement by combined road and railway bridge. | ||
| Seta River Bridge | Otsu | Japan | 21 September 1934 | Typhoon | 11 killed, 216 injured | An express train derailed by the Muroto Typhoon on the Seta River Bridge, September 1934 | ||
| Appomattox River Drawbridge | Hopewell, Virginia | United States | 22 December 1935 | Bus drove across the open drawbridge. | 14 killed | |||
| Falling Creek Bridge | Chesterfield County, Virginia | United States | 1 September 1936 | Wood and steel. | Truck crossing the bridge struck a tie rod causing collapse. One truck fell 15 feet to the creek bed, a second escaped to safety. | 4 killed, 5 injured | ||
| Kasai River Bridge | Kasaï | Belgian Congo | 12 September 1937 | Railway bridge | While under construction. | Began in 1935; construction never resumed. | ||
| Honeymoon Bridge (Upper Steel Arch Bridge) | Niagara Falls, New York – Niagara Falls, Ontario | United States – Canada | 27 January 1938 | Steel arch road bridge | Ice jam in gorge pushed bridge off foundations | 0 killed, 0 injured | Bridge completely destroyed | Replaced in 1941 by the Rainbow Bridge |
| Sandö Bridge | Kramfors, Ångermanland | Sweden | 31 August 1939 | Concrete arch bridge | Collapsed during construction | 18 killed | Complete loss of the main span | Received minimal media attention as WWII began the next day. The bridge was finished in 1943 as the longest concrete arch bridge in the world until 1964. |
| Tacoma Narrows Bridge | Tacoma, Washington | United States | 7 November 1940 | Road bridge, cable suspension with plate girder deck | Aerodynamically poor design resulted in aeroelastic flutter | 0 killed, 0 injured (1 dog killed) | Bridge completely destroyed, no persons killed. One dog killed and three vehicles lost. | Became known as "Galloping Gertie", in the first 4 months after opening up until its collapse under aeroelastic flutter. Most major new bridges are now modelled in wind tunnels. Rebuilt in 1950; parallel span opened in 2007. |
| Theodor Heuss Bridge | Ludwigshafen | Germany | 12 December 1940 | Bridge of concrete, Motorway bridge | Collapsed during construction | Unknown | Bridge completely destroyed | Resulted in delay in completion of the motorway crossing of the Rhine until 1953 |
| Chesapeake City Bridge | Chesapeake City, Maryland | United States | 28 July 1942 | Road bridge, vertical lift drawbridge | Tanker Franz Klasen rammed the movable bridge supports, causing collapse | Unknown | Central span completely destroyed | Bridge replaced by high-level tied-arch bridge in 1949 |
| Deutz Suspension Bridge | Cologne | Germany | 28 February 1945 | Suspension road bridge | collapsed during repair work | unknown count of people killed | Total destruction | |
| Ludendorff Bridge | Remagen | Germany | 17 March 1945 | Truss railroad and pedestrian bridge | Battle damage incurred 7 March 1945 | 28 killed, 93 injured | Total destruction | Ludendorff Bridge on March 17, 1945, after the collapse |
| John P. Grace Memorial Bridge | Charleston, South Carolina | United States | 24 February 1946 | Steel cantilever truss automobile bridge | Three spans collapsed due to collision by the freighter Nicaragua Victory | 5 killed | Three collapsed spans 240 feet (73 m) were replaced and stood until 2005 when the bridge was closed following the opening of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge | |
| Inotani Wire Bridge | Toyama | Japan | 22 September 1949 | 29 killed | Around 150 professors and educators from schools in the prefecture were in the area for a geological survey when a bolt bent and the suspension bridge collapsed, sending 33 people down into the Jinzu River. 29 people were killed or went missing and 4 people were injured. |
References
- "History of Charles Bridge"http://www.radio.cz/en/static/charles-bridge/history
- "Der Einsturz der Nienburger Schrägkettenbrücke"http://www.bernd-nebel.de/bruecken/4_desaster/nienburg/nienburg.html
- "Great Yarmouth suspension bridge disaster memorial unveiled"https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-24240357
- Report to the Commissioners of the Railwayshttp://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1806
- canmorehttps://canmore.org.uk/site/13359/inverness-ness-suspension-bridge
- Full Details of the Railway Disaster of the 12th of March, 1857, at the Desjardin Canal on the Line of the Great Western Railwayhttps://archive.org/details/fulldetailsrail00unkngoog
- New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1858/05/12/archives/latest-by-telegraph-eight-persons-killed-and-several-fatally.html
- The Erie Observerhttps://greenerpasture.com/Places/ShowNews/21018
- Scientific Americanhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/railway-bridges-and-timbers
- The Independenthttps://www.independentri.com/view_from_swamptown/article_2cc92d7e-47f1-11ec-87b5-a3cdc5cfaac9.html
- Danger Ahead! Historic Railway Disastershttp://danger-ahead.railfan.net/accidents/richmond_switch/home.html
- Camperdown Chroniclehttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23343744
- de:Eisenbahnunfall von Osijekhttps://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenbahnunfall_von_Osijek
- The Western Star and Roma Advertiserhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97517592
- Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners 1887https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951d026156224&seq=115
- The Australasianhttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138628408
- Oklahoma Audio Almanachttps://web.archive.org/web/20100604162425/http://www.library.okstate.edu/scua/exhibit/oaa/20sep00.htm
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culturehttps://web.archive.org/web/20100728153921/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/D/DO011.html
- Historical Atlas of Oklahoma
- The Daughters of Dover: Dover around the worldhttps://web.archive.org/web/20100921112956/http://doversociety.org/DofD-Oklahoma.html