Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge |
|
|---|---|
| Carries |  SR 72 and  SC 72 |
| Crosses | Savannah River |
| Locale | Elberton, Georgia |
| Official name | Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge |
| ID number | BH 46435 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch |
| Total length | 1,581 ft (482 m) |
| Width | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Longest span | 11 spans, each 125 ft (38 m) long |
| Clearance below | 50 ft (15 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | November 11, 1927 |
| Closed | 1981 |
The Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge was a special highway bridge. It crossed the Savannah River between Georgia and South Carolina. This bridge was used from 1927 until 1981. When it was finished, it meant that people no longer needed to use ferries to cross the Savannah River.
Contents
Building the Bridge: A Look Back
In November 1921, a group called the Calhoun Highway Association asked for help. They wanted the Georgia State Highway Department to find a good spot for a bridge. This spot would be near Calhoun Falls, South Carolina.
In March 1925, a plan for the bridge was approved. It would be built at Burton's Ferry. This spot was close to the home of James Edward Calhoun. The estimated cost for the bridge was about $200,000. That was a lot of money back then!
The United States government promised $100,000 for the project. The states of Georgia and South Carolina each promised the same amount. Also, Elbert County, Georgia and Abbeville County, South Carolina, each agreed to pay $25,000. This money would help their states meet their part of the cost.
In April 1925, Abbeville County voted to approve their $25,000. Elbert County did the same in August. In June 1925, officials in Elbert County were told that the road leading to the bridge would also get money.
In August 1925, two different designs were suggested for the bridge. One was a steel bridge. The other was a bridge made of reinforced concrete arches.
In February 1926, a company offered the lowest price for the concrete arch bridge. It would cost $213,992. Even though the concrete bridge was a bit more expensive, Abbeville County really wanted that design. Work on the bridge officially began on March 23, 1926.
Bridge Design and How It Was Built
This bridge was made of concrete and had eleven arches. These arches were like giant, strong curves. The bridge also had "open spandrels," which means there were open spaces above the arches.
The parts of the bridge leading up to the main section were 48 feet long. The bridge stood 50 feet above the river. Each of the main sections was 125 feet long and 18 feet wide.
There used to be two special plaques on the bridge railings. These plaques were later taken off. When it was built, this bridge was one of the biggest concrete bridges in the southeastern United States.
Remembering Heroes: The Dedication
The American Legion is a group for military veterans. Local American Legion groups suggested that the bridge should honor American soldiers. These soldiers had lost their lives in the Great War. By September 1927, people started calling it the Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge.
The bridge officially opened with a big ceremony on Armistice Day in 1927. This day is now known as Veterans Day. During the ceremony, a woman named Miss Ida Calhoun broke a bottle of ginger ale over the bridge's concrete railing. She was a descendant of a famous person named John C. Calhoun.
A New Bridge Takes Its Place
The Georgia–Carolina Memorial Bridge was used for many years. But eventually, it was replaced by a new bridge in 1981.
