When did the Silver Bridge collapse in West Virginia?
Daniel Rodriguez
Published Feb 19, 2026
When did the Silver Bridge collapse in West Virginia?
December 15, 1967
December 15, 1967, was one of the darkest days in West Virginia history. Sadly, it was only the first of many tragic days that West Virginians would suffer. The Silver Bridge, which connected Point Pleasant with Gallipolis, Ohio, had opened to traffic in 1928.
Where was the original Silver Bridge located?
Point Pleasant
Kanauga
Silver Bridge/Location
What was the purpose of the Silver Bridge?
The Silver Bridge was an eyebar suspension bridge that stood over the Ohio River in West Virginia from 1928 to 1967. Named for its unique aluminum paint, the eyebars provided an innovative way to anchor the cables.
What was the worst bridge collapse in history?
Ponte das Barcas History’s deadliest bridge collapse occurred during the Peninsular War as the forces of Napoleon attacked the Portuguese city of Porto.
How did they fix the Silver Bridge?
The American Bridge Company developed a new heat-treated carbon steel to use on the construction of the Silver Bridge. This new steel would allow the individual members of the bridge to handle more stress. Along with the two eye-bars sharing the load, the steel could easily handle the 4 « million pound load.
Who designed the Silver Bridge?
J.E. Greiner Company
So-called by Point Pleasant-area residents viewing its silvery aluminum paint for the first time, the Silver Bridge was designed by J.E. Greiner Company and built by Gallia County Ohio River Bridge Company (later West Virginia-Ohio Bridge Company) and its subcontractor, U.S. Steel’s American Bridge Company.
What bridge fell in West Virginia?
The bridge carried U.S. Route 35 over the Ohio River, connecting Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and Gallipolis, Ohio….
| Silver Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Designer | J. E. Greiner Company |
| Constructed by | American Bridge Company |
| Opened | May 30, 1928 |
| Collapsed | December 15, 1967 |
What was wrong with the Silver Bridge?
The bridge failure was due to a defect in a single link, eye-bar 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.
Who built the Silver Bridge?
So-called by Point Pleasant-area residents viewing its silvery aluminum paint for the first time, the Silver Bridge was designed by J.E. Greiner Company and built by Gallia County Ohio River Bridge Company (later West Virginia-Ohio Bridge Company) and its subcontractor, U.S. Steel’s American Bridge Company.
What is the oldest bridge still in use?
The oldest datable bridge in the world still in use is the slab-stone single-arch bridge over the river Meles in Izmir (formerly Smyrna), Turkey, which dates from c. 850 BC. Remnants of Mycenaean bridges dated c. 1600 BC exist in the neighbourhood of Mycenae, Greece over the River Havos.
Has Golden Gate bridge collapsed?
When did the Golden Gate Bridge collapse? The Golden Gate bridge collapsed during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Afterward, engineers studied the bridge’s failure and concluded that it was due to high winds.
Is the Silver Bridge Open Grand Canyon?
Grand Canyon, AZ- The National Park Service (NPS) has reopened the Silver Bridge to all foot traffic following a formal structural assessment. The Silver Bridge, which crosses the Colorado River along the Bright Angel Trail is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near Phantom Ranch.
