The Collapse of Galloping Gertie:
A Revolutionary Turning Point in Suspension Bridge Design
Clark Eldridge: Project Engineer
Eldridge was a bright student, who became a respected engineer. He designed a $11 million span and cared much for public safety. After the collapse, he blamed the money-lenders for not giving enough cash to the bridge project. Eldridge cherished the bridge and wrote, “I go over the Tacoma Bridge frequently and always with an ache in my heart. It was my bridge” (Hobbs 51).
"Clark Eldridge, Bridge Engineer, 1940", WSDOT
"Leon Moisseiff", San Francisco Public Library
Leon Moisseiff: Head Designer
Moisseiff designed the Tacoma Narrows. His work in the Deflection Theory (mathematical equations that state how a bridge can support itself), helped him rise in authority. Moisseiff put his ultimate confidence in the Deflection Theory, believing that it would be able to support the bridge completely (Hobbs 51). Because of his shortsightedness, the bridge became unstable. This ultimately led to the collapse of Galloping Gertie, and ended his career.