Broughton Suspension Bridge - Aftermath

Aftermath

The collapse of the bridge caused something of a loss of confidence in suspension bridges, with one newspaper report at the time commenting:

From what happened on this occasion we would greatly doubt the stability of the great Menai Bridge (admirable as its construction is), if a thousand men were to be marched across in close column, and keeping regular step. From its great length, the vibration would be tremendous before the head of the column had reached the further side, and some terrific calamity would be very likely to happen.

This did not stop the building of more suspension bridges, and the main consequence of the collapse was that the British Army issued the order to "break step" when soldiers were crossing a bridge. French soldiers were also ordered to break step on bridges – nevertheless, marching was cited as a contributing factor to the collapse of the Angers Bridge in France during a storm in 1850 when over 200 soldiers were killed.

Broughton Suspension Bridge was rebuilt and strengthened, but, according to the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870–72), it was propped with temporary piles whenever a large crowd was expected. The suspension bridge was replaced by a Pratt-truss footbridge, which was formally opened on 2 April 1924. It was designed by the borough engineer and cost about £2,300. The superstructure weighs about 91 tons.