This is a list of bridge failures.
Before 1800
BridgeLocationCountryDateConstruction type, use of bridgeReasonCasualtiesDamageCommentsMilvianBridgeRomeRomeWooden pontoon bridge replacing permanent stone bridgeUse by retreating Maxentian troops during the Battle of the Milvian BridgeUnknownBridge unusableLondonBridgeLondonEnglandWooden bridgeLondon tornado of 1091UnknownBridge unusableSint ServaasbrugMaastrichtHoly Roman EmpireWooden bridgeThe weight of a large procession400Bridge unusableJudith bridgePragueKingdom of Bohemia2 February 1342Stone bridgeSevere floodUnknownTwo-thirds of the 170 years old bridge collapsed or heavily damaged. One arch survived to this day. Charles Bridge was built next to its remains. Construction started in 1357 and ended in 1402.Surviving arch of Judith bridgeRialtoBridgeVeniceVenetian RepublicWooden structure with central drawbridge.Overload by spectators during a weddingUnknownBridge total damage
1800–1899
BridgeLocationCountryDateConstruction type, use of bridgeReasonCasualtiesDamageCommentsEitai Bridge (Eitai-bashi)Tokyo (Edo)Japan (Lunisolar 19 August)Wooden beam bridge over River SumidaOverloaded by festival500–2000 killed1 pier and 2 spans destroyedEdo-Tokyo MuseumPonte das BarcasPortoPortugalWooden pontoon bridge over River DouroOverloaded by thousands of people fleeing a bayonet charge of French Imperial Army led by Marshal Soult during the First Battle of Porto4000 killedSeveral spans destroyed. Bridge reconstructed, dismantled in 1843Saalebrücke bei Mönchen-NienburgNienburg, Saxony-AnhaltGermanyChain-stayed bridge with small bascule sectionPoor materials, unbalanced load and vibrations by subjects singing to honour the duke55 drowned or frozen to deathBridge half damaged, other side demolishedBroughton Suspension BridgeBroughton, Greater ManchesterEnglandSuspension bridge over River IrwellBolt snapped due to mechanical resonance caused by marching soldiers0 dead, 20 injuredCollapsed at one end, bridge quickly rebuilt and strengthenedThe rebuilt Broughton Suspension Bridge in 1883. This disaster caused the "break step" rule issued to UK soldiers.Yarmouth suspension bridgeGreat YarmouthEnglandSuspension bridgeSpectators crowded the bridge over the River Bure to view a clown travel the river in a barrel. Their position shifted as the barrel passed; the suspension chains snapped and the bridge deck tipped over.79 people drowned, mainly children.Suspension chains snapped due to overload.Contemporary illustration of the aftermath of the collapseDee BridgeChesterEnglandCast iron beam bridge over the River DeeOverload by passenger train on faulty structure5 killedBridge rendered unusableThe Dee bridge after its collapse. The failure was due to faulty design.Ness BridgeInvernessScotland1849Stone Bridge over River NessFlooding overwhelmed the 164-year-old bridgeUnknownEither completely destroyed or damaged beyond repairRebuilt as a suspension bridge, which itself was replaced in 1961 due to inability to handle increased traffic.Angers BridgeAngersFranceSuspension bridge over Maine RiverWind and possibly resonance of soldiers led to collapse226 killed, unknown injuredBridge total damageThe Angers Bridge after its collapseWheeling Suspension BridgeWheeling, West Virginia (then Virginia)United StatesSuspension bridge carrying the National Road over the Ohio RiverTorsional movement and vertical undulations caused by windNo casualtiesDeck destroyed; towers left intact and remain in use todayGasconade BridgeGasconade, MissouriUnited StatesWooden rail bridgeInaugural train run conducted before temporary trestle work was replaced by permanent structure31 killed, hundreds injuredSpan from anchorage to first pier destroyedDesjardins Canal BridgeDundas, OntarioCanadaRail bridgeMechanical force due to broken locomotive front axle. Desjardins Canal disaster ensued.59 killedSauquoit Creek BridgeWhitesboro, New YorkUnited StatesRailroad trestleWeight (two trains on the same trestle)9 killed, 55 injuredSpringbrook BridgeBetween Mishawaka and South Bend, IndianaUnited StatesRailroad embankment bridgeWashout41 killed (some accounts of 60 to 70)Known as the Great Mishawaka Train Wreck or the South Bend train wreckBull BridgeAmbergateEnglandCast iron rail bridgeCast iron beam cracked and failed under weight of freight train0 killed 0 injuredTotal collapse of bridgeSection of broken girderWootton BridgeWoottonEnglandCast iron rail bridgeCast iron beams cracked and failed2 killedTotal damage to floorWootton Bridge crash, caused by a flawed design & unreliable cast iron, failed from a repairPlatte BridgeSt. Joseph, MissouriUnited StatesSabotage by Confederate partisans during US Civil War.17–20 killed, 100 injuredChunky Creek Bridgenear Hickory, MississippiUnited StatesDebris build-up from winter flood shifted the bridge trestle.Rail bridgeNew Hamburg, New YorkUnited StatesWooden trestle with drawbridge in centerFire following explosion caused by train collision with derailed train22 killedDrawbridge collapsed into creek1871 New Hamburg rail disasterTrain bridgeWood River Junction, RIUnited StatesWashaway7 killed, 20 injuredRailroad Disaster at Meadow Brook, Rhode IslandDixon Bridge (aka Truesdell Bridge)Dixon, IllinoisUnited States4 May 1873Iron vehicular bridge (for pedestrians and carriages) over the Rock RiverLarge crowd assembled on one side to view baptism ceremony; bridge design flaw46 killed 56 injuredBridge was a total lossThe collapse of the Dixon (Ill.) Truesdell Bridge, May 4, 1873.Portage BridgePortageville, New YorkUnited StatesWooden beam bridge over the Genesee RiverFire0 killed 0 injuredBridge was a total lossFire destroyed all but the concrete abutmentsAshtabula River Railroad BridgeAshtabula, OhioUnited StatesWrought iron truss bridgePossible fatigue failure of cast iron elements92 killed, 64 injuredBridge total damageAshtabula bridge disasterTay Rail BridgeDundeeScotlandContinuous girder bridge, wrought iron framework on cast iron columns, railway bridgeFaulty design, construction and maintenance, structural deterioration and wind load75 killed (60 known dead), no survivorsBridge unusable, girders partly reused, train damagedFallen Tay Bridge. Locomotive was saved from the Tay and was still in use 19 years later; known as "The Diver".Honey Creek Rail TrestleBoone County, IowaUnited StatesRailroad trestleFlash flood washed out timbers supporting trestle2 killed (one body never recovered)Bridge rebuiltKate Shelley, who lived nearby, was able to warn the railroad to stop an oncoming passenger train.Inverythan Rail BridgeAberdeenshireScotlandCast iron girder rail bridgeHidden defects in cast iron caused collapse as train passed5 killed, 17 injuredBridge rebuiltCrash scene after the accident. The Board of Trade issued warning about similar under-bridges. Little Silver New Jersey United States Trestle railway bridge Train derailment due to insecure railroad switch on the northbound side of the bridge. 3 killed, 65+ injured Estimated $15,000 worth of damage to the bridge and cars combined. Bridge was repaired. Several rail cars derailed and fell off the bridge into Parker's Creek. Ulysses S. Grant was a passenger. Osijek railway bridge Osijek Hungary / Croatia border Railway bridge Bridge collapsed into the flooding Drava river under the weight of a train 28 Washout by floodCollapsed wooden bridge later replaced by iron bridge. Camberwell BridgeLondonEnglandCast iron trough girder bridge over railwayHidden defects in cast iron caused collapse of four girders0 killed, 1 injuredBridge rebuiltBussey BridgeBostonUnited StatesIron railroad bridge collapses under trainPoor design and maintenance23 killed, 100+ injuredBridge rebuiltA drawing of the collapsed bridge.Big Four BridgeLouisville, KentuckyUnited States Caisson and truss12 died when caisson flooded, 4 died when beam broke, 21 died when truss fell into riverConemaugh ViaductUpriver from Johnstown, PennsylvaniaUnited States Stone,78-foot (24 m) high railroad bridgeWashed away by the Johnstown Flood0total lossNorwood Junction Rail BridgeLondonEnglandCast iron girder fails under passing trainHidden defects in cast iron caused collapse0 killed, 1 injuredBridge rebuiltMünchenstein Rail BridgeMünchensteinSwitzerlandWrought iron trussTrain falls through centre of bridge71 killed, 171 injuredThe railway bridge collapsed under a heavy train loaded with more than 500 passengers; more than 70 were killed.Chester rail bridgeChester, MassachusettsUnited StatesLattice truss bridgeRemoved rivets caused bridge to collapse under the weight of a train14 killedPoint Ellice BridgeVictoria, British ColumbiaCanadaOverloaded tram car collapses central span47/53/50–60 killed (reports vary) Maddur railway bridge collapse Maddur India River in flood 150 drowned AA
1900–1949