A moving bridge coordinate measuring machine comprising: a planar base; a moving bridge assembly translatable across the planar base in a first direction (Y axis) and including a first support leg, a second support leg, and a cross member spanning over the base and connecting the first leg to the second leg and extending in a second direction (X axis) perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the plane of the planar base; a cross slide supported by the cross member and translatable across the cross member in the second direction; and a quill carried by the cross slide and translatable towards and away from the base in a third direction (Z axis) perpendicular to each of the first and second directions; wherein the first support leg has a first support leg base length (B l) extending in the first direction and a first support leg base width (B w) extending in the second direction, wherein the quill would interfere with the first support leg below the cross slide when the cross slide is positioned near an end of the cross member connected to the first support leg if the first support leg had a width equal to the first support leg base width (B w) along the entire length of the first support leg at each height of the first support leg in the third direction above the first support leg base and below the cross slide, and wherein the first support leg comprises a recess formed above the first support leg base extending partially into the first support leg width and partially along the first support leg length and extending up the first support leg to accommodate the quill without interference when the cross slide is positioned near the end of the cross member connected to the first support leg. a planar base; a moving bridge assembly translatable across the planar base in a first direction (Y axis) and including a first support leg, a second support leg, and a cross member spanning over the base and connecting the first leg to the second leg and extending in a second direction (X axis) perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to the plane of the planar base; a cross slide supported by the cross member and translatable across the cross member in the second direction; and a quill carried by the cross slide and translatable towards and away from the base in a third direction (Z axis) perpendicular to each of the first and second directions; wherein the first support leg has a first support leg base length (B l) extending in the first direction and a first support leg base width (B w) extending in the second direction, wherein the quill would interfere with the first support leg below the cross slide when the cross slide is positioned near an end of the cross member connected to the first support leg if the first support leg had a width equal to the first support leg base width (B w) along the entire length of the first support leg at each height of the first support leg in the third direction above the first support leg base and below the cross slide, and wherein the first support leg comprises a recess formed above the first support leg base extending partially into the first support leg width and partially along the first support leg length and extending up the first support leg to accommodate the quill without interference when the cross slide is positioned near the end of the cross member connected to the first support leg.