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Deadliest US bridge collapse shrouded in mysterious folklore

Interview with engineer at West Virginia DOT gives insight into Silver Bridge

FreightWaves Classics is sponsored by Old Dominion Freight Line — Helping the World Keep Promises. Learn more here.

On this episode of Tracks Through Time, Deputy Editor Brielle Jaekel tells the story of the collapse of the Silver Bridge and its mysterious history, followed by an interview with Tracy W. Brown, a West Virginia DOT state bridge engineer. 

Find out more about the actual collapse, what residents saw leading up to it and how the event permanently changed safety regulations for bridge construction.

FreightWaves Classics articles look at various aspects of the transportation industry’s history. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter!


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Brielle Jaekel

Brielle is the deputy editor of Freight Waves and has a more-than-10-year history in B2B publishing, tackling cutting edge stories in business, with four years specifically focused on freight. She’s interviewed numerous CEOs and is adept at finding stories that matter to the industry. She believes in finding a new way forward in the supply chain to solve problems, drive sustainability and put people first. If you’d like to get in touch with Brielle, please email her at [email protected].