diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index 6c170c17..5b8ea695 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -402,8 +402,8 @@ extern void stop_service(void);
 extern int confirm(char *);
 extern int askyn(char *);
 /* bridgefall.c */
+extern void bridge_damaged(struct sctstr *, struct emp_qelem *);
 extern void bridgefall(struct sctstr *, struct emp_qelem *);
-extern void knockdown(struct sctstr *, struct emp_qelem *);
 /* bsanct.c */
 extern void bsanct(void);
 /* caploss.c */
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
index 4afac17e..72e4f1f9 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
@@ -369,14 +369,7 @@ eff_bomb(struct emp_qelem *list, struct sctstr *target)
 	   "%s bombing raid did %d%% damage in %s\n",
 	   cname(player->cnum), oldeff - target->sct_effic,
 	   xyas(target->sct_x, target->sct_y, target->sct_own));
-    if (target->sct_effic < SCT_MINEFF) {
-	if (target->sct_type == SCT_BSPAN)
-	    knockdown(target, list);
-	else if (target->sct_type == SCT_BTOWER) {
-	    knockdown(target, list);
-	    bridgefall(target, list);
-	}
-    }
+    bridge_damaged(target, list);
     putsect(&sect);
     collateral_damage(target->sct_x, target->sct_y, dam, list);
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/bridgefall.c b/src/lib/subs/bridgefall.c
index c11529d1..160bd316 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/bridgefall.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/bridgefall.c
@@ -48,6 +48,31 @@
 #include "sect.h"
 #include "xy.h"
 
+static void knockdown(struct sctstr *, struct emp_qelem *);
+
+/*
+ * Check bridges at and around SP after damage to SP.
+ * If SP is an inefficent bridge, splash it.
+ * If SP can't support a bridge, splash unsupported adjacent bridges.
+ * Don't drown planes in LIST when splashing bridges.
+ * Write back splashed bridges, except for SP; writing that one is
+ * left to the caller.
+ */
+void
+bridge_damaged(struct sctstr *sp, struct emp_qelem *list)
+{
+    int des;
+
+    if (sp->sct_effic >= SCT_MINEFF)
+	return;
+
+    des = sp->sct_type;
+    if (des == SCT_BSPAN || des == SCT_BTOWER)
+	knockdown(sp, list);
+    if ((des == SCT_BHEAD || des == SCT_BTOWER) && !opt_EASY_BRIDGES)
+	bridgefall(sp, list);
+}
+
 void
 bridgefall(struct sctstr *sp, struct emp_qelem *list)
 {
@@ -94,7 +119,7 @@ bridgefall(struct sctstr *sp, struct emp_qelem *list)
 
 /* Knock down a bridge span.  Note that this does NOT write the
  * sector out to the database, it's up to the caller to do that. */
-void
+static void
 knockdown(struct sctstr *sp, struct emp_qelem *list)
 {
     struct lndstr land;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/sect.c b/src/lib/subs/sect.c
index 52f22f1e..febaaae1 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/sect.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/sect.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ sct_prewrite(int id, void *ptr)
 
     time(&sp->sct_timestamp);
 
+    bridge_damaged(sp, NULL);
     checksect(sp);
     getsect(sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y, &sect);
     return 1;
@@ -106,14 +107,6 @@ checksect(struct sctstr *sp)
     else
 	loyalcivs = 0;
 
-    if (sp->sct_effic < SCT_MINEFF) {
-	if (sp->sct_type == SCT_BSPAN)
-	    knockdown(sp, 0);
-	else if (sp->sct_type == SCT_BTOWER) {
-	    knockdown(sp, 0);
-	    bridgefall(sp, 0);
-	}
-    }
     if (sp->sct_own != 0 && !civs) {
 	sp->sct_work = 100;
 	sp->sct_oldown = sp->sct_own;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/sectdamage.c b/src/lib/subs/sectdamage.c
index 6dcacbb7..a14dad48 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/sectdamage.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/sectdamage.c
@@ -69,13 +69,7 @@ sect_damage(struct sctstr *sp, int dam, struct emp_qelem *list)
     if (sp->sct_mobil > 0)
 	sp->sct_mobil = damage(sp->sct_mobil, dam);
     item_damage(dam, sp->sct_item);
-    if (opt_EASY_BRIDGES == 0) {
-	if (sp->sct_effic < SCT_MINEFF && sp->sct_type == SCT_BHEAD)
-	    bridgefall(sp, list);
-    } else {
-	if (sp->sct_effic < SCT_MINEFF && sp->sct_type == SCT_BSPAN)
-	    knockdown(sp, list);
-    }
+    bridge_damaged(sp, list);
     putsect(sp);
     return eff;
 }