Tacoma Narrows Bridge -Past and Present Virtual Cache
Hidden : 10/28/2017
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: virtual (virtual)

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Geocache Description:

Only four months after its completion, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State suffers a spectacular collapse earning its name “Galloping Gertie."

1940 Tacoma Narrows Bridge

Slender, elegant and graceful, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge stretched like a steel ribbon across Puget Sound in 1940. The third longest suspension span in the world opened on July 1st. Only four months later, the great span's short life ended in disaster. "Galloping Gertie," collapsed in a windstorm on November 7, 1940.
The bridge became famous as "the most dramatic failure in bridge engineering history." Now, it's also "one of the world's largest man-made reefs." The sunken remains of Galloping Gertie were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 to protect her from salvagers.
A dramatic tale of failure and success
The story of the failure of the 1940 Narrows Bridge and the success of the Current Narrows Bridge is a great American saga. When Galloping Gertie splashed into Puget Sound, it created ripple effects across the nation and around the world. The event changed forever how engineers design suspension bridges. Gertie's failure led to the safer suspension spans we use today. 
 
Video (visit link)

The 1950 Narrows Bridge

After 29 months of construction, a new and much safer Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened on Oct. 14, 1950. The current bridge is the 5th longest suspension bridge in the United States. Located on State Route 16 between Tacoma and Gig Harbor, the bridge is 5,979 feet in length. That's 40 feet longer than its predecessor, Galloping Gertie.
Engineers designed the current bridge to carry 60,000 cars a day. But, now it handles an average of over 90,000 vehicles daily.
 
The 2007 Narrows Bridge

In 1998 the public was asked, "Should the Tacoma Narrows Bridge be modified and a parallel bridge constructed, financed by tolls on bridge traffic and operated as a public-private partnership?" A majority of the voters answered "Yes." Work began to plan the design and construction of such a bridge. Following delays, several lawsuits and modified legislation, WSDOT signed a design-build agreement with Tacoma Narrows Constructors (a joint venture with Bechtel Infrastructure and Kiewit Construction) to not only build a new eastbound Tacoma Narrows Bridge, but also a new toll facility and plaza, 3½ miles of improvements to State Route 16, a new bridge maintenance facility, and numerous other improvements to the highway.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on October 5, 2002, and roadway construction began over the week of January 20, 2003. Over the next 4½ years, TNC and WSDOT worked at a breathtaking pace to complete the project.

The newest Tacoma Narrows Bridge opened to traffic in the early morning hours of July 16, 2007. The day before on July 15, 2007, 60,000 visitors joined WSDOT, elected officials and others to celebrate its completion. Nowhere else had a parallel suspension bridge been built so close to an existing suspension bridge, and it was all accomplished in the challenging tidal, windy Narrows environment. No workers lost their lives during construction of this amazing engineering feat.
  
Speaking of Bridges ... A Note on Terminology

The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge, completed and destroyed in 1940, earned the nickname "Galloping Gertie." We use the "Gertie" label or "1940 Narrows Bridge." The westbound bridge we drive over today was completed in 1950. We call this one the "Current Narrows Bridge." The new eastbound bridge most recently completed is referred to as the "2007 Narrows Bridge."

Virtual Logging Requirements
To log this Virtual Geocache please upload a photo of yourself and your GPS, or if you prefer, just a photo of your GPS, taken at the posted coordinates with the bridge or the viewing machine in the background. If your camera is also your GPS, use some other object, car keys, wallet... The important thing is that the picture demonstrates you're a cacher logging a virtual cache, not a tourist.

To maintain the integrity of this Virtual Cache, any find logs posted without the required photo will be deleted.

Enjoy this history and Happy Caching ....

Virtual Reward - 2017/2018. This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.

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