Posted on 09/29/2010 4:29:35 PM PDT by Pyro7480
Royal Gorge Bridge
Colorado
America's highest suspension bridge may be breathtaking for some, but those scared of heights may be left gasping for air as they stare straight down nearly 90 stories at the Arkansas River below. Completed in 1929, the bridge didn't have stabilizing wind cables until 1982.
Where: Royal Gorge, Colorado, over the Arkansas River.
Stats: 969 feet above the gorge; 1,260 feet long....
Mackinac Bridge
Michigan
Some drivers get so nervous about crossing this five-mile-long bridge that they don't even go. And this happens so often that the Mackinac Bridge Authority will drive your car or motorcycle for you (and for free). The biggest fear is the wind, which often exceeds 30 miles per hour on the bridge.
Where: Between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
Stats: 5 miles long; 199 feet above the water....
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
Maryland
Drivers are notoriously afraid of this bridge, as it's subjected to frequent—and often violent—storms. And when the bad weather hits, forget about visibility: get to the middle of this five-mile-long bridge and you can barely see land.
Where: Spanning the Chesapeake Bay to connect Maryland's eastern and western shores.
Stats: Nearly 5 miles long; 186 feet high at its highest point.
(Excerpt) Read more at travel.yahoo.com ...
I’ve never been particularly afraid of heights... The Royal Gorge bridge did unnerve me... looking straight down over the edge, or between planks, or through knotholes in the planks - it made me queasy.
What’s your favorite color?
I remember the original Cooper River bridge quite well. Built in 1928 and declared obsolete from its inception.
The second span opened in 1966. I was a Citadel cadet and recall when the new span was closed from time to time and the old narrow span became two-way again. Even in my little 1956 Volkswagen the old span was hair raising epecially with my girlfriend clutching my gearshifting arm like a scared cat.
However, IMO nothing can beat for sheer fright the shortlived Tacoma Narrows brdge aka “Galloping Gertie”. Google the original color footage of its writhing death in a high wind.
The I35W bridge in Minneapolis was kinda scary for a few seconds. I heard that riding that thing down to the ground was quite the experience.
Whoa...
Too bad they didn’t include the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys in the middle of a tropical storm :-)
Yeah, been over that one a few times. I walked out to the middle to take pics of the gorge.
Too bad they didn’t include the Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys in the middle of a tropical storm :-)
Sorry for the double post - computer hiccup.
Glenn Canyon Dam in Arizona is kinda scary.
I’ve seen Royal Gorge but wasn’t wiling to pay $10 to cross a bridge. The railroad pass 45 mile long gravel road I took to get there was fun enough. No guardrails, gravel, huge drops, multiple switchbacks, one lane wide for two way traffic. Someone’s backing up. That was great.
I cross Big Mac often driving a bus taking kids to a Christian Camp in northern Michigan. Just moved to Maryland and have only crossed the Bay Bridge once.
Been across the New River Gorge Bridge on US 19 in West Virginia - it has sides so you can’t see the gorge very well though. Always thought it was the highest in the U.S., guess not.
I’ve tried to walk out to the first observation section 3 times. Just can’t make it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.