Ben Sawyer Bridge

Infobox Bridge
bridge_name=Ben Sawyer Bridge


caption=
official_name=Ben Sawyer Bridge
carries=SC-703 Ben Sawyer Blvd
crosses=Intracoastal Waterway
locale=Charleston, SC
maint=South Carolina Department of Transportation
id=
design=Movable Swing
mainspan=
length=1153 feet (351.7 m)
width=26 feet (7.9m)
height=
load=20 tons (18 metric tons)
clearance=32 feet (9.8m) (closed)
below=
traffic=12400 (2005)
begin=
complete=1945
open=
closed=
toll=
map_cue=
map_

map_text=
map_width=
coordinates= coord|32|46|23|N|79|50|32|W|region:US-SC_type:landmark_scale:25000|display=inline,title
lat=
long=The Ben Sawyer Bridge is a swing bridge that connects the town of Mount Pleasant with Sullivan's Island in South Carolina. The bridge swings on its central axis to open for boat traffic which is too tall to clear the bridge, and has an operators station in the center of the span from which an attendant can operate the bridge.

Prior to completion of the Isle of Palms Connector Bridge in 1993, the Ben Sawyer Bridge was the only way to reach Sullivan's Island, and, by a connecting bridge, the Isle of Palms, by road.

The bridge was heavily damaged during Hurricane Hugo, leaving one end of the main span in the Intracoastal Waterway. Pictures of the damaged bridge are some of the most recognizable lasting images of the destruction wrought by the storm. It has subsequently been repaired and is due for additional refurbishment as of fall 2008.

References

* [http://www.scdot.org/ArtMan/publish/article_757.shtml Ben Sawyer Bridge Rehabilitation Contract Approved, Accessed October 2, 2008]
* [http://nationalbridges.com/nbi_record.php?StateCode=45&struct=001040070300100 National Bridge Index, Accessed October 3, 2008]