Irwin S. Cobb and other terrifying US bridges

[Vindicator3]

Just went over the Cobb bridge in Paducah for the second time ever. First time was years ago. Once as a driver, once as a passenger. If I'd have known the main bridge over the Ohio (on I-24) was closed I'd have re-routed to avoid Paducah altogether.

The see-through metal grate floor is one thing, but the fact that it is grooved and curved means it is constantly pulling your tires toward the wall or toward the center line, and at the same time it is extra narrow and has no shoulder or median. Insane. Google maps link (with reviews!) below.

Anyone else enjoyed this monstrosity? What other heart-stoppers have others found out there awating our unsuspecting BMWs?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ir...oASAFQAw%3D%3D

[chassis]

Have you driven, or walked, over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan?

[BlkGS]

I bet that's fun in snow.

[maticCRO]

What is the deal with half the bridge (1lane) having seemingly normal asphalt, and inner lane is metal construction? Weight /cost saving? First time seeing this

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by maticCRO

What is the deal with half the bridge (1lane) having seemingly normal asphalt, and inner lane is metal construction? Weight /cost saving? First time seeing this

Rain, snow, updraft pressure relief.

[Vindicator3]

Originally Posted by chassis

Have you driven, or walked, over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan?

Sailed past it on the ferry, but that is all.

[Tejas1836]

Try that on a motorcycle

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

Try that on a motorcycle

Imagine falling with your motorcycle on those grates

[zx10guy]

Riding a motorcycle over the Bay Bridge in MD is also an adventure; especially if there is any significant wind gusts. The bridge has been closed down a number of times because the wind gusts made driving any vehicle on the bridge extremely dangerous. To give you a sense of the danger, the highest roadway point of the bridge is 186 ft above the water. That's a long way to fall down.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by chassis

Have you driven, or walked, over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan?

Yeah, this is the only bridge that's ever actually scared me a little bit. It's a looong way down, and you can get some pretty strong crosswinds while going over it.

I'm not sure which one it is, but there's a bridge in China that goes over a huge chasm – I'm not sure if I wouldn't pucker a little bit going over that one, lol.

[Vindicator3]

Originally Posted by GuidoK

Imagine falling with your motorcycle on those grates

One of the "reviews" at the Google Maps link for the Cobb bridge is from a guy who rode a Gold Wing across. "This is a bridge made for vehicles with four wheels" (or something like that) is one of his comments.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

Yeah, this is the only bridge that's ever actually scared me a little bit. It's a looong way down, and you can get some pretty strong crosswinds while going over it.

I'm not sure which one it is, but there's a bridge in China that goes over a huge chasm – I'm not sure if I wouldn't pucker a little bit going over that one, lol.

You mean the new bridge that just fell earlier today?

[3798j]

Originally Posted by Phillies8008

I'm not sure which one it is, but there's a bridge in China that goes over a huge chasm – I'm not sure if I wouldn't pucker a little bit going over that one, lol.

Maybe it's this one...it collapsed yesterday.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Riding a motorcycle over the Bay Bridge in MD is also an adventure; especially if there is any significant wind gusts. The bridge has been closed down a number of times because the wind gusts made driving any vehicle on the bridge extremely dangerous. To give you a sense of the danger, the highest roadway point of the bridge is 186 ft above the water. That's a long way to fall down.

I've ridden over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge many, many times on my scooters. The Yamaha 650 Seca was quite the adventure when the winds whipped up. But I will say traversing the Bay Bridge prepared me well for riding over the Mackinac the few times I got ride it as well.

Fun note. Back in the late 1960's when we'd head down to Bethany Beach in the Country Squire, my older brother would make my mom straddle the center of the East span (original span back then) so he could open the passenger door and look down through the metal grates to the bay below. Mega fun for his younger brother too!

[XutvJet]

There are several very tall bridges in New Orleans that can be a bit spooky. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge (22 miles straight) is pretty cool during windy conditions. Feels like you're driving across the ocean.

[3798j]

The Tacoma Bridge...1940

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

There are several very tall bridges in New Orleans that can be a bit spooky. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge (22 miles straight) is pretty cool during windy conditions. Feels like you're driving across the ocean.

I got stuck on that bridge in a traffic jam (on the big scooter as well).

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

I've ridden over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge many, many times on my scooters. The Yamaha 650 Seca was quite the adventure when the winds whipped up. But I will say traversing the Bay Bridge prepared me well for riding over the Mackinac the few times I got ride it as well.

Fun note. Back in the late 1960's when we'd head down to Bethany Beach in the Country Squire, my older brother would make my mom straddle the center of the East span (original span back then) so he could open the passenger door and look down through the metal grates to the bay below. Mega fun for his younger brother too!

Wow. I've never been across that span without the other 2 lane bridge being there. But I didn't go to the Eastern shore till my 20s.

Yes, riding across the Bay Bridge with cross winds was definitely an adventure. Not many people know that because of how high that bridge is with zero emergency pull off lanes....not to mention the times when the now westbound bridge would be open opposing direction traffic, that there is a service available where someone will drive your car over the bridge for you if you're too scared.

I have had morbid thoughts when I ride across that bridge when I look over the concrete barrier thinking the metal barrier isn't going to to do squat if I get hit. As the height of the metal barrier/bars is just about where my waist is on my bikes. I'd be knocked over the barrier to fall into the Bay below. Then the next morbid thought I would have is I'd most likely drown if I survive the fall because I'd be in full leather gear, helmet, and boots.

[Phillies8008]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Maybe it's this one...it collapsed yesterday.

Wow, that's horrifying. Not that one though – I saw the one I'm talking about years ago.

I think it was this one.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Wow. I've never been across that span without the other 2 lane bridge being there. But I didn't go to the Eastern shore till my 20s.

Yes, riding across the Bay Bridge with cross winds was definitely an adventure. Not many people know that because of how high that bridge is with zero emergency pull off lanes....not to mention the times when the now westbound bridge would be open opposing direction traffic, that there is a service available where someone will drive your car over the bridge for you if you're too scared.

I have had morbid thoughts when I ride across that bridge when I look over the concrete barrier thinking the metal barrier isn't going to to do squat if I get hit. As the height of the metal barrier/bars is just about where my waist is on my bikes. I'd be knocked over the barrier to fall into the Bay below. Then the next morbid thought I would have is I'd most likely drown if I survive the fall because I'd be in full leather gear, helmet, and boots.

If you hit the water from 180 feet it will knock you out and you'll drown while unconscious. Just a thought to ease your mind...

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by 3798j

The Tacoma Bridge...1940

We studied that bridge collapse in Statics and Dynamics physics class. Combination of the wind gust frequency and length of the span section setup an oscillation in the structure. Not everything can be engineered for, unfortunately.

[Three Stents]

Originally Posted by chassis

Have you driven, or walked, over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan?

I went across that bridge on my motorcycle back in 81, haven't done it since and would never do it again