Driving over the bridge connecting Charleston with Mount Pleasant is a much more relaxing experience since the new Arthur Ravenel Jr bridge opened in 2005. Prior to that, I used to hold my breath while driving across either the Grace Bridge (1929) or Pearman Bridge (1966) ~ both were scary, shaky, narrow drives. Fearful is a good way to describe the old drive to Mount Pleasant.
Cooper River Bridge (1981) from the deck of the USS Yorktown. The bridges were removed in 2007.
The new bridge is named for a local Charleston legend, Arthur Ravenel Jr. He’s an 8th generation descendant of French Huguenots who arrived in 1686. He was involved in local politics for years, but it was at the urging of a friend, Ravenel ran and was elected to the South Carolina State Senate in 1996 and remained a State Senator until 2005. Within a year, he created legislation for the South Carolina Infrastructure Bank. With the help and support of former U.S. Rep. Henry Brown, they put together the financing for the new bridge and other transportation projects.
Sunny skies and the Ravenel Bridge
Every spring, there’s the Cooper River Bridge Run. It’s a 10K which starts at Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, goes across the bridge and ends at Marion Square in Charleston. I’ve added the run to my travel wish list…
What a lovely bridge. I don’t recall seeing it but the last time I was there was 2001.
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I so love this bridge! I’ve ridden over it on my bicycle and had hoped to ride over on the motorcycle but haven’t yet. Funny thing is that I was so excited about riding over on the bicycle, that I forgot it didn’t have the heavy weight of my motorcycle … I about got blown over!
It’s just such a beautiful design isn’t it?
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The wind over the bridge is so strong ~ that’s what made the old bridge so scary. The new design is beautiful.
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I remember driving one of those older bridges in Charleston – Yes, very scary! Like your photos of the new one.,
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Thanks. Although the bridge looks mysterious clouded in the fog, I was thrilled when it cleared and we could see all of the new bridge. It’s beautiful.
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