Everyone In South Carolina Should Visit This Remarkable Bridge At Least Once
There are many fascinating bridges in the Palmetto State. We have one of the most haunted bridges in the country, the remains of an old bridge that has been turned into a scenic park, and one of the most remarkable bridges in the world – all open for to the public to enjoy. While you’re bridge hopping to check out the most interesting bridges in South Carolina, hop on over to the Lowcountry and check out this magical swing bridge that’s fun for the whole family to see in action…
Watching the old swing bridge in action is kind of like watching your buddy play with a giant erector set. As opposed to traditional draw bridges that have two spans that lift in the middle, a swing bridge rotates to create an opening.
The Ben Sawyer Bridge connects the Town of Mount Pleasant with the Town of Sullivans Island. It was built in 1945 and then overhauled in 2010. Many will remember the iconic photos of this bridge soon after Hurricane Hugo's fury passed through the Charleston area in 1989. The high winds turned the bridge on its axis and dropped one end into the intracoastal waterway.
Today, crossing the bridge without getting stopped for boat traffic is considered good luck by the locals who depend on the Ben Sawyer to get on and off the island in a timely manner.
But for everyone else who's not in a hurry, getting stopped by the bridge to allow a boat to pass can be a fun adventure. Except on the hottest of days, you'll likely find people out of their cars and walking up the bridge to watch the old girl open and turn to allow yachts and tall sailboats passage.
The Ben Sawyer may not hold any world records for height, or length, or anything else, but it does provide loads of (free) entertainment and a unique experience for generations of families living in and visiting the Lowcountry.
Want to see it in action for yourself? The best time to get stuck in traffic is at the top of the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. when the bridge opens on schedule to allow passage of vessels too tall to pass underneath.
Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
