# Magician crossing bridge.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magician-crossing-bridge/692335>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [July 4, 2014, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magician-crossing-bridge/692335 "2014-07-04T10:31:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\
**Post date:** [October 27, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magician-crossing-bridge/692335/41 "2014-10-27T02:36:50Z")

</div>

> [@Aquadementia](#):
>
> What kind of bridge are we talking about?
> 
> Seems like if we have a straight forward bridge supported at both ends it would have a weak point in the exact middle.

Should have replied to this earlier, but this is not strictly true. Depends on what the weak element is. If you’re talking about the roadbed, and assuming no flaws in building, then you are correct: the part under the most stress will be the center of the simply supported bridge.

However, it could be the problem is in the footings or anchors, in which case the bridge would fail at the supports. Or it could be a suspension bridge, and the cables break.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/magician-crossing-bridge/692335.md?page=2)