[equalitybeforethelaw]

As time has gone by, I find I cannot drive over these types of bridges unless I am in the inside lane. Even at that, I focus exclusively on the tail lights in front of me and try not to look to the sides. Its weird, when young I rode on helicopters with my feet on the skids and never felt panicked. I have even thought of designing some glasses with blinders to help me cross such bridges. The worst one I crossed is in Astoria, OR, crossing the Columbia river. I let my wife drive across the Chesapeak Bay Bridge. Don’t know what causes this fear, but it is real.

[beaversmom]

Better stay away from this one in Colorado:

I've got a fear of ALL heights. I can handle things if there is enough of a barrier, but can't get too close to the edge.

[jrcats]

Houston has a really high bridge & we were traveling with a pickup & 28 foot Airstream when the engine went out just before we got to the top. There was no way to back up & my husband was able to get the vehicle started again & we coasted all the way down the bridge. No way no how am I getting near that bridge again.

[Frantzie]

Been there done that. I once crossed the old Tampa bridge. There were two old metal spans. A freighter hit one bcak in 1980 something. There was one span going north and another south. After the accident they kept the one span open going north and south until the new bridge was built.

I made the mistake of going over it. You could see the wrecked span. I was pretty scared.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I have even thought of designing some glasses with blinders to help me cross such bridges.

That is not hard to do. Get some thick opaque plastic sheeting, cut a rectangle, punch two holes in it in line and thread it on the earpiece of your eyeglasses. One rectangle on each side.

it works!

Or you can get some welder’s safety glasses with dark side shields.
That works also.

[Condor51]

***As time has gone by, I find I cannot drive over these types of bridges unless I am in the inside lane. ... Don’t know what causes this fear, but it is real. ***

You're not alone.

I grew up in Chicago and we have a lot of bridges that cross the Chicago River. They're not long or high but I never 'liked' crossing them. And when the 'Chicago Skyway' was built I freaked crossing that thing as a kid -- it is high, long and 'open'.

But yet, I have (or had) no problem going up 500ft in a Construction 'Man Hoist' (wire cage elevator) on the outside of a building. Or going to the edge of a floor slab 40 stories up, only 'protected from falling' by a wire attached between to columns. (now the barriers are much better)

There's prolly some fancy name for 'fear of bridges', but like you say, its real. Go figure ?!? :-)

Oh and then when I had Motorcycles I really hated crossing them as the bridge decks are all metal grating and the bike's tires would wiggle...... arrrgh!

[little jeremiah]

I’m totally with you.

But then, I hate flying in airplanes, too.

I like the ground.

[little jeremiah]

I can’t even LOOK at the Astoria bridge.

I’m way worse. I’d have to get there another way.

[driftless2]

"these types of bridges"

I've gone over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan a number of times and felt the same kind of trepidation. It's a long way down, and one or more cars have gone over the side to their deaths.

[who knows what evil?]

As time has gone by, I find I cannot drive over these types of bridges unless I am in the inside lane.

You didn't have that choice on the old Cooper River Bridge in Charleston, South Carolina...it looked as spindly and scrawny a bridge as I have ever seen. The ULTIMATE 'white-knuckle ride'; especially in a thunderstorm. You'll have to settle for pictures now...it has been torn down. Finally.

[Night Hides Not]

If you really want some excitement, check out the "Mixmaster" in Dallas.

Especially if you want to head west to Fort Worth on I-30.