Angers Bridge collapse kills soldiers crossing

Background. The Angers Bridge, also known as the Basse-Chaîne Bridge, was a suspension bridge spanning the Maine River in Angers, France. The city is located just south of the confluence of the Loir, Mayenne, and Sarthe rivers, which together form the Maine. Around 1850, the city wall surrounding the old city core was demolished and replaced by wide boulevards.

Incident. On 16 April 1850, a battalion of French soldiers was marching across the bridge during a thunderstorm. Although ordered to break step, survivors reported their bodies acted as sails, catching the wind and causing involuntary resonance. The upstream anchoring cable broke in its concrete mooring, followed by the downstream cable. The right-bank end of the deck fell, causing a steep slope that threw soldiers into the river.

Aftermath. The collapse killed 226 people, including soldiers and residents who attempted rescue. The disaster raised serious questions about the integrity of suspension bridges. Louis Vicat reported on anchorage problems in 1853, leading to inspections of similar bridges. Consequently, France abandoned suspension bridge construction until 1870, inhibiting development for two decades.