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Tacoma Narrows Bridge Project

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Traffic Information

•  Building the New Tacoma Narrows Bridge
TNB Tolling


•  Nighttime noise construction information, (253) 620-4440
•  Contact the TNB Office, 1 (877) 762-7769

Contact us

Lisa Murdock
Olympic Region Communications Manager
  (360) 357-2789
WSDOT Olympic Region
  (360) 357-2600
Contact us and tell us
what you think:
orfeedback@wsdot.wa.gov or
Online Bridge Form

WSDOT
3214 50 Street Court NW, Building D, Suite 302
Gig Harbor, WA 98335

TNC
2110 14th Ave. NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335


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Tacoma Narrows Bridge Photo Album

Cable Spinning

Simply described, “cable spinning” is a mechanical process whereby steel wires get carried between the anchorages and over the towers until a total of 19,000 miles of steel wire have been spun.

Massive spools of steel wire will be secured to each anchorage and a spinning wheel will pull individual wires off of the large spools. As the pilot rope (a wire that guides cable being spun) moves, the spinning wheel follows. The wheels that carry wire travel up and over the towers, across the water to the opposite anchorage and back again, laying each pencil-thin wire parallel to the other.

A total of 19 strands, each containing 464 wires, will be compacted and wrapped to complete the main suspensions cable. A total of 8,816 individual steel wires are needed to create a 20½-inch cable.

Click on any thumbnail for enlarged image and description.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning
Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning
Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning
Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning
Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning
Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning
Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning Tacoma Narrows Bridge cable spinning

(Last updated 04/28/06)

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