Paul J. Gelegotis Memorial Bridge

The Paul J. Gelegotis Bridge, also known as Stono Bridge or Maybank Bridge, is located in Charleston, South Carolina, USA; it connects James Island and Johns Island on State Highway 700. This bridge opened in late 2003, on the historically significant site of a series of former Stono Bridges.

History

The site of the current bridge is among several sites of a slave rebellion called the Stono Rebellion, one of the earliest known organized acts against slavery in the Americas. On September 9, 1739, twenty black slaves raided a store near the bridge; in the process they killed two storekeepers and took guns and gunpowder. cite web
title =Today in History: September 9 - Stono Rebellion
publisher =The Library of Congress
date =
url =http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/sep09.html
accessdate =2006-12-26 ]

The bridge survived an attempt by Union forces to burn it during the American Civil War. Union troops floated burning rafts down to the Stono Bridge, hoping the wooden structure would catch fire and burn. However, their efforts were thwarted by a Lieutenant Smith, who along with members of a naval battalion, brought the rafts to shore. cite book
last =Evans
first =Gen. Clement A
authorlink =Clement A. Evans
coauthors =
title =Confederate Military History
pages =424
url =http://www.researchonline.net/sccw/cmh/cmh308.htm
id = ]

There have been several bridges in this location; the last variation was a two lane bridge 1,416 feet-long, which was built in 1928, and later refurbished in 1950. This swing-span drawbridge used a 156-foot-long steel-truss which left little room for even small vessels to pass beneath unless it was open.cite web
last =Fisher
first =Christina
title =The Maybank Highway Bridge
publisher =Reed Business Information
date =2004-07-26
url =http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA439617.html
accessdate =2006-12-26 ]

The Paul Gelegotis Bridge (new bridge)

The Gelegotis Bridge is a four-lane 7,300-foot-long structure, which began operation in 2003. The new elevated design allows auto traffic to move faster, while vessels pass under a 65 foot clearance and through 90 feet of horizontal clearance between the bridge supports.cite news
last =Vanegeren
first =Jessica
title =2 lanes of Stono Bridge to open
publisher =The Post and Courier Staff
date =2003-11-25
url =http://www.welcometokiawah.com/Links%20of%20Interest/Community/2%20lanes%20of%20Stono%20bridge%20to%20open.htm
accessdate =2006-12-26]

This bridge is named after Paul Gelegotis, a James Island businessman and politician. Paul Gelegotis is also known as "The Father of EMS", as it was he who created the Emergency Medical System in South Carolina. This "9-1-1" line, and medically equipped ambulances resulted, to replace the "crash-wagons".

The South Carolina Department of Transportation opened two lanes to vehicles in November 2003, and opened the remaining two lanes in June 2004. Three construction accidents delayed the opening by six months, two of these were caused by cranes falling onto the structure; the third was a worker falling 30 feet from a crane. The new bridge incorporates modern features, such as shared bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and is the first bridge designed to include the South Carolina Department of Transportation's new seismic design criteria. In total, construction of the bridge cost approximately $41.5 million. The bridge was dedicated June 17, 2004.

As a result of increased traffic flow and speed over the new bridge, Charleston is considering spending approximately two million dollars to build a tunnel beneath the bridge approach ramps so golf carts and pedestrians are able to safely cross.cite news
last =Braswell
first =Tommy
title =Charelston Municipal is the people's course
publisher =Golf Course News
date =2004-07-08
url =http://www.golfcoursenews.com/news/news.asp?ID=674
accessdate =2006-12-31]

ee also

* John F. Limehouse Memorial Bridge several miles west of this bridge, completed the same year

References

External links

* [http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=10053 OSHA Newsletter - OSHA Cites South Carolina Contractor for Crane Collapses At Maybank Bridge Project]