Ben Sawyer Bridge swing span arrives

SULLIVAN'S ISLAND -- It was a big moment for long-time islanders as the much-anticipated new swing span for the Ben Sawyer Bridge arrived by barge Thursday from North Charleston.

Fire Chief Anthony Stith, who was born and raised on the island, was pleased with the design of the new $30 million, federally-funded span. "I'm glad it looks like the old bridge," Stith said.

Islanders split over whether to build a new, modern-looking fixed span bridge, but in the end, more of them favored the historic look. "I think it's part of the character of the island. People need to slow down and relax and enjoy the view," Stith said.

The weather was gray, windy and cold but that didn't affect the mood of Mayor Carl Smith, who documented the event with his camera. "It's something we've been looking forward to for a long time, about 25 years. It's a fine day," Smith said. He recalled the island referendum on the bridge design. "It was a pretty raucous debate about it," Smith said.

Upon arrival, the 640-ton replacement swing span was parked on two barges in the Intracoastal Waterway, which closed for 10 days starting on Thursday in the vicinity of the bridge. The bridge is scheduled to close at 7 a.m. Saturday for up to 10 days. Workers will remove the old span and install the new one and replace the span approaches.

The timing of the work will depend on the weather, particularly the winds, said James Law, media relations specialist for the state Department of Transportation. Until the work is finished, the only route off the island is the Isle of Palms Connector.

Former Mayor Marshall Stith was concerned that the closure would the island would lose business that it would normally receive from the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition Feb. 12-14 in Charleston. "That could have a major impact on all of the businesses," Stith said. Marshall and Anthony Stith are brothers.

When the bridge project is finished, the 12-foot-wide car lanes will be increased to 14 feet. The 2.5-foot-wide bike and pedestrian paths on both sides of the bridge will become one 5-foot-wide path on the harbor side. The new path will be elevated 10 inches above the pavement. The replacement span was built at the old Navy base.

Ben Sawyer Bridge inspectors have found numerous structural issues over the years.

Last year the 124-foot bridge was closed for 72 hours so rusty steel beams supporting the 5-ton bridge-tender's house could be replaced.

In 2004 transportation engineers reduced the gross weight of vehicles allowed to cross the bridge to 20 tons from 30 tons after an inspection found "fairly significant deterioration" of floor beams and stringers.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com