If you’re standing on the shores of Puget Sound, looking up at those massive orange-ish towers, the question of how long is the Tacoma Narrows bridge seems like it should have a simple, one-sentence answer. It doesn't. Or rather, it has several answers depending on which bridge you’re talking about and which part of the structure you’re actually measuring.
Most people don't realize they're actually looking at a pair of twins that aren't quite identical. There are two separate suspension bridges spanning the gap between Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula today. They sit side-by-side, carrying traffic in opposite directions. To get the full picture of the length, you have to look at the 1950 eastbound bridge and the 2007 westbound bridge.
The main span of the current Tacoma Narrows bridges—the distance between the two towers—is exactly 2,800 feet.
But wait. That’s just the over-water part between the supports. If you measure the total length of the structure from one anchorage to the other, you’re looking at roughly 5,979 feet for the 1950 bridge and 5,400 feet for the newer 2007 span. It’s a massive engineering feat that looks even longer when you’re stuck in rush hour traffic trying to get to Gig Harbor.
The Evolution of the Narrows Span
The history of this crossing is honestly a bit of a tragedy mixed with a massive comeback story. You’ve probably seen the grainy black-and-white footage of "Galloping Gertie," the original 1940 bridge that twisted like a ribbon in the wind before snapping and falling into the sound. That bridge was also 2,800 feet at its center span. Back then, it was the third-longest suspension bridge in the world, trailing only the Golden Gate and the George Washington Bridge.
Engineers in the late 1930s were obsessed with making bridges look sleek and thin. They used plate girders instead of deep trusses. It looked beautiful. It was also a disaster. When the wind hit that 8-foot solid steel girder, the bridge couldn't "breathe." It caught the wind like a sail.
When the 1950 replacement was built, they didn't just make it "long." They made it heavy. They used open trusses that were 33 feet deep so the wind could blow right through the structure instead of pushing it around. That bridge is still standing today, carrying eastbound traffic toward Tacoma.
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Breaking Down the Miles
When we talk about how long is the Tacoma Narrows bridge, we have to account for the approaches. A bridge isn't just the part over the water.
- The Eastbound Bridge (Built 1950): This is the veteran. Its total length is approximately 5,979 feet. The center span is 2,800 feet, and the side spans (the parts from the towers back to the land) are 1,100 feet each.
- The Westbound Bridge (Built 2007): This one is slightly different. While it shares that 2,800-foot center span to stay symmetrical with its sibling, its total length is roughly 5,400 feet.
Why the difference? Geography. The way the anchorages are set into the cliffs on either side of the Narrows isn't perfectly identical. The 2007 bridge was designed to fit into a slightly different footprint to accommodate modern seismic standards and the specific topography of the Narrows.
Why 2,800 Feet Matters
You might wonder why they stuck with the 2,800-foot center span for the new bridge. It wasn't just for aesthetics. By keeping the towers aligned with the 1950 bridge, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) ensured that the piers—the massive concrete foundations under the water—didn't interfere with the complex currents of the Puget Sound more than necessary.
The Narrows is a brutal place for construction. The water moves fast. We're talking tidal currents that can hit 9 knots. If you've ever been on a boat out there, you know the water looks like it's boiling. By keeping the span length the same, the engineering team could mirror the hydraulic impact of the existing bridge.
Interestingly, the towers of the 2007 bridge are made of reinforced concrete, standing 510 feet tall. The 1950 bridge uses steel towers that are 467 feet tall. Even though the "length" across the water is the same, the newer bridge is a much taller, bulkier beast.
Comparing the Narrows to Other Giants
To really understand the scale of the Tacoma Narrows, you have to compare it to the big players. It’s no longer in the top three for length, but it’s still a heavyweight in the United States.
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The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York has a central span of 4,260 feet. The Golden Gate is 4,200 feet. So, at 2,800 feet, the Tacoma Narrows bridge is significantly shorter than the true titans. However, it remains the longest suspension bridge built in the United States since the 1960s. That’s a weirdly specific stat, but it’s true. Most modern long-range bridges are now cable-stayed designs (think of the ones that look like fans or harps) rather than traditional suspension bridges.
Honestly, the "length" feels different when you're walking it. There is a pedestrian path on the 2007 bridge. If you decide to walk the whole thing, plan for about a 20 to 30-minute stroll just to get across the main structure, not counting the walk from the parking areas.
Deep Dive into the Engineering Specs
Let's get into the weeds for a second because the numbers are kind of mind-blowing. Each of the two main suspension cables on the 2007 bridge is 20.5 inches in diameter. Inside those cables are 8,516 individual wires. If you took all the wire in just one of those cables and laid it out end-to-end, it would stretch for 4,650 miles.
That is roughly the distance from Seattle to London.
All that wire is there to support a bridge that is essentially a giant machine designed to move. People think bridges are static objects. They aren't. They’re alive. The Tacoma Narrows bridges are designed to move several feet up and down depending on the weight of the cars and the temperature. In the summer, the heat expands the steel, and the bridge actually gets slightly longer, which causes the center span to dip lower toward the water.
Surprising Facts About the Span
- The Depth: The water beneath the bridge is about 200 feet deep.
- The Foundations: The piers go down another 60 feet into the seabed.
- The Weight: The 2007 bridge used 16,000 tons of structural steel.
- The Toll: Most people measure the bridge by the $4.50 to $6.25 it costs to cross it (if you're heading eastbound).
There’s a common misconception that the two bridges are the same length. They aren't. People also think the bridge is still "dangerous" because of what happened in 1940. That couldn't be further from the truth. The 1950 and 2007 spans are some of the most over-engineered structures on the planet. They have tuned mass dampers and aerodynamic fairings that make them incredibly stable, even when the wind howling through the Narrows hits 60 or 70 miles per hour.
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Practical Information for Travelers
If you’re planning to visit or drive across, you should know that the length isn't the only thing that might trip you up.
Directional Flow:
The 1950 bridge (the north one) carries all traffic going toward Tacoma (Eastbound).
The 2007 bridge (the south one) carries all traffic going toward Gig Harbor and Bremerton (Westbound).
Pedestrian Access:
Only the 2007 bridge has a dedicated walking/biking path. It’s called the Scott Pierson Memorial Trail. You can access it from the War Memorial Park in Tacoma. It's a great way to feel the vibration of the bridge and see the 2,800-foot drop to the water without actually, you know, dropping.
Photography Tips:
For the best view of the full length of the bridges, head to the Titlow Beach area in Tacoma or the Narrows Park in Gig Harbor. Seeing them from the side is the only way to truly appreciate the scale of that 2,800-foot gap.
Final Summary of Measurements
When you're asked how long is the Tacoma Narrows bridge, give them the nuance.
For the center span—the distance most engineers use to rank bridges—it’s 2,800 feet.
For the total suspension portion, including the side spans, it’s 5,000 feet.
For the total structure including the approaches, it’s approximately 5,400 to 5,979 feet depending on which of the two bridges you are standing on.
Knowing the length helps you appreciate the sheer scale of what’s happening beneath your tires. You’re essentially driving across a mile of steel and concrete suspended by wires, hanging over a whirlpool-filled channel. It’s a bit terrifying if you think about it too much, but it’s mostly just a testament to how far we’ve come since the days of Galloping Gertie.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the Wind: If winds are sustained over 35 mph, high-profile vehicles (like RVs) should use caution, though the bridges are rated for much higher.
- Prepare Your Pass: If you're driving eastbound, make sure your Good To Go! pass is active to avoid the higher "Pay By Mail" toll rates.
- Visit the History Museum: If you want to see the actual remnants of the 1940 bridge, the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor has incredible exhibits on the bridge's collapse and reconstruction.
- Walk the Trail: Park at War Memorial Park and walk at least to the first tower of the 2007 bridge to experience the 510-foot height and the 2,800-foot span from a bird's-eye view.