Gervais Street Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gervais Street Bridge |
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Photograph of the Gervais Street Bridge in 1986
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| Carries | 4 Lanes of   US 1 / US 378 |
| Crosses | Congaree River |
| Locale | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Arch Bridge |
| Material | Reinforced concrete |
| Total length | 1,415 feet (431 m) |
| Width | 36.1 feet (11.0 m) |
| Number of spans | 11 |
| History | |
| Architect | Charles C. Randolph |
| Designer | Joseph W. Barnwell |
| Constructed by | Hardaway Contracting Company |
| Construction begin | June 1926 |
| Construction end | February 1928 |
| Construction cost | $597,167 |
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Historic Bridge
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 Location in South Carolina
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| MPS | Historic Resources of Columbia |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003676 |
| Added to NRHP | 25 November 1980 |
The Gervais Street Bridge is a famous bridge in South Carolina, United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. This bridge is an arch bridge, built using strong reinforced concrete.
Building the bridge started in 1926 and it was finished in 1928. It became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This is actually the third bridge built in this exact spot over the Congaree River. The first bridge was built around 1827 but was burned down during the American Civil War. The second bridge was built in 1870. The current Gervais Street Bridge replaced it. When it was first built, it was the widest road in South Carolina. It was also the only bridge crossing the Congaree River until 1953.
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Bridge Design and Look
The Gervais Street Bridge is an arch bridge. It is made of reinforced concrete and has open spandrels. Spandrels are the spaces between the arches. The bridge has a road for cars and sidewalks for people to walk on.
Along the sides of the bridge, there are decorative railings called balustrades. These railings hold green, cast-iron light fixtures. These lamp posts have cool designs. You can see the letter "C" and palmetto palms on their bases. They also have a vine pattern and a fancy acanthus leaf design. This bridge is one of only four open spandrel concrete bridges in South Carolina. It is also the oldest and most decorated of the three bridges that cross the Congaree River.
Where the Bridge Is Located
The Gervais Street Bridge is found in Columbia, South Carolina. It carries U.S. Route 1 (US 1) and US 378. These roads go across the Congaree River.
Inside the city, the bridge connects Gervais Street on the east side to Meeting Street on the west side. This bridge helps connect Columbia to the southern and western parts of South Carolina. It is also very close to where the Broad River and the Saluda River join together to form the Congaree River.
A Look at the Bridge's Past
This bridge is the third one built in this exact spot. You can still see parts of the two older bridges just north of the current Gervais Street Bridge.
The First Wooden Bridge
The very first bridge here was made of wood. A company called the Columbia Bridge Company was formed in 1819 to build it. The wooden bridge was finished around 1827. Early city planners wanted Senate Street and Assembly Street to be the main roads in Columbia.
However, because of how the land was, the bridge over the Congaree River had to be built at the end of Gervais Street. This meant traffic went through Gervais Street instead of Senate Street. So, Senate Street became more of a neighborhood area. Gervais Street became much busier, especially when major railroads arrived.
During the American Civil War, the Confederate States Army burned this first wooden bridge in 1865. They did this to slow down General Sherman's army.
The Second and Third Bridges
The second bridge was built in 1870. It was owned by private companies until 1912. Then, Richland County and Lexington County bought it together.
Building the current Gervais Street Bridge began in February 1926. It was completed in June 1928. Joseph W. Barnwell, a bridge engineer from Charleston, designed it. The Hardaway Contracting Company from Columbus, Georgia built it.
Until 1953, the Gervais Street Bridge was the only bridge that crossed the Congaree River. When it was built, it was the widest road in the entire state. The Gervais Street Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 25 November 1980.
