Also called "The most expensive training film for civil engineers".
this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2025
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I'm sure it really resonates with them though.
RIP Tubby
“My dog Tubby died.”
“Oh no! What happened?”
“A bridge collapsed.”
“How tubby was he?!”
I hate you, you made me laugh at poor Tubby's death 😂
Construction began in September 1938
Destruction began in November 1940
The video showing people calmly walking away as the bridge is wobbling is fucking wild. Check 0:56.
I'm sure they were locals, and this was just another day. It had been swaying for months without any issue, why would today be any different?
What's really wild is that, in 1940 when cameras were still limited, they happened to be filming - from multiple angles - at the exact moment it collapsed.
Also, the guy walking on it at 1:10. Wonder if it's the same guy as in the gif?
the bridge collapsed because moderate winds produced aeroelastic flutter that was self-exciting and unbounded: for any constant sustained wind speed above about 35 mph (56 km/h), the amplitude of the (torsional) flutter oscillation would continuously increase, with a negative damping factor, i.e., a reinforcing effect, opposite to damping.[5] The collapse boosted research into bridge aerodynamics-aeroelastics, which has influenced the designs of all later long-span bridges.
I used to drive over the Tacoma bridge pretty often!
They learned from their mistakes.
There's now two and a toll.
After they didn’t listen to the guys who knew better and blew the state's money anyway.
Nothing changes.
Proof that it is, in fact, possible!
Someone found the next episode of "Well There's Your Problem".
Bridge lasted for less than two years, great use of resources!
Guy: “Naw, fuck that.”
I think about that video every time I'm in traffic going over the bridge that replaced it. Not that I don't have faith in modern engineering (not so much in the upkeep of infrastructure in this country) but still, can't help but think about it as I feel it shake.
Fun fact about Washington (Puget sound) bridges, we have 4 of the 5 longest floating permanent bridges of which there are 20 in the world.
Floating bridges. especially the big one over Lake Washington, just don't feel... super fucking safe. I get that they are, with constant maintenance. But seeing a wave generated by your car driving is not confidence inspiring.
Just needs tamping down.