Today in History 1940: Tacoma Bridge collapses Only four months after its completion, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State suffers a spectacular collapse. When it opened in 1940, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was the third-longest suspension bridge in the world. Built to replace the ferry system that took commuters from Tacoma across the Tacoma Narrows to the Gig Harbor Peninsula, the bridge spanned 2,800 feet and took three years to build. To save cost, the principle engineer, Leon Moissei

Work continues around the clock on the Washington Bridge. As of now, we’re still expecting the repairs to take approximately three months. As this effort continues, updates will continue on a weekly basis. | Rhode Island Department of Transportation