1928 - The Silver Bridge opened on May 30, 1928. It was the first chance for the people of Point Pleasant, West Virginia to see up close the construction of their new suspension bridge across the Ohio. Instead of long strands of steel cables, the roadway was suspended from huge solid steel bars. They were like links and a giant bicycle chain. Almost 40 years later, at the height of five o'clock traffic, one of these iron bars broke, causing the entire bridge to collapse. 31 vehicles fail with th

This woman was driving toward West Virginia's Silver Bridge moments before it collapsed. The collapse remains the worst road bridge disaster in American history. Here's why it happened: | NOVA l PBS