Problematic Pedestrian Bridges

By Henry Petroski

Crowds walking, running, dancing, and even standing still on these spans often prove to be the ultimate test of a structure's soundness.

This Article From Issue

November-December 2017

Volume 105, Number 6

Page 340

DOI: 10.1511/2017.105.6.340

View Issue

Pedestrian bridges are ubiquitous, but most are unremarkable and anonymous. They span interstate highways to carry hiking and biking trails over heavy traffic, thus keeping walkers, runners, and cyclists safely above the fray. Some pedestrian bridges rise to prominence, however, often because of controversies or problems associated with their location, design, construction, or performance.

The London Millenium Bridge, which opened in 2000, was the first new bridge to cross the Thames River in more than a century, and was London’s first dedicated pedestrian bridge. Within a few days, it closed because it swayed too much from the sideways load of a crowd’s footsteps. After repairs, the bridge no longer wobbled and was reopened in 2002.

**Brian Jeffery Beggerly/Wikimedia Commons**

To access the full article, please log in or subscribe.

American Scientist Comments and Discussion

To discuss our articles or comment on them, please share them and tag American Scientist on social media platforms. Here are links to our profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

If we re-share your post, we will moderate comments/discussion following our comments policy.

American Scientist