[5][6] Simple suspension bridges, which lack vertical suspenders, have a long history in many mountainous parts of the world.

In some circumstances, the towers may sit on a bluff or canyon edge where the road may proceed directly to the main span.

Otherwise, the bridge will typically have two smaller spans, running between either pair of pillars and the highway, which may be supported by suspender cables or their own trusswork.

The Tibetan siddha and bridge-builder Thangtong Gyalpo originated the use of iron chains in his version of simple suspension bridges.

[18] The first with cables assembled in mid-air in the modern method was Joseph Chaley's Grand Pont Suspendu in Fribourg, in 1834.

In suspension bridges, large main cables (normally two) hang between the towers and are anchored at each end to the ground.

The timber structure essentially hides the cables; and from a quick view, it is not immediately apparent that it is even a suspension bridge.

(The failure of a single eyebar was found to be the cause of the collapse of the Silver Bridge over the Ohio River.)

Another reason is that as spans increased, engineers were unable to lift larger chains into position, whereas wire strand cables can be formulated one by one in mid-air from a temporary walkway.

They are created by inserting the suspender wire rope (at the bridge deck supports) into the narrow end of a conical cavity which is oriented in-line with the intended direction of strain.

This enables this type of construction to be used without the danger of vortex shedding and consequent aeroelastic effects, such as those that destroyed the original Tacoma Narrows bridge.

Live load refers to traffic that moves across the bridge as well as normal environmental factors such as changes in temperature, precipitation, and winds.

The principles of suspension used on a large scale also appear in contexts less dramatic than road or rail bridges.

Light cable suspension may prove less expensive and seem more elegant for a cycle or footbridge than strong girder supports.

[24] The longest pedestrian suspension bridge, which spans the River Paiva, Arouca Geopark, Portugal, opened in April 2021.

Cable suspension may also be augmented by the inherent stiffness of a structure that has much in common with a tubular bridge.

One of Europe's first suspension bridges, it collapsed in 1831 due to mechanical resonance induced by troops marching in step.

As a result of the incident, the British Army issued an order that troops should "break step" when crossing a bridge.

Wind caused a phenomenon called aeroelastic fluttering that led to its collapse only months after completion.

There were no human deaths in the collapse; several drivers escaped their cars on foot and reached the anchorages before the span dropped.

As a result of this incident, 24 people died and dozens of others were injured and were treated at the Aji Muhammad Parikesit Regional Hospital.

Research findings indicate that the collapse was largely caused by the construction failure of the vertical hanging clamp.

On 30 October 2022, Jhulto Pul, a pedestrian suspension bridge over the Machchhu River in the city of Morbi, Gujarat, India collapsed, leading to the deaths of at least 141 people.