John F. Limehouse Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Limehouse Memorial Bridge |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 32°47′9″N 80°6′28″W / 32.78583°N 80.10778°W |
| Carries | State Road S-10-20 Main Road |
| Crosses | Stono River (Intracoastal Waterway) |
| Locale | West Ashley – John's Island, South Carolina, United States |
| Official name | John F. Limehouse Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | South Carolina Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 2,800 feet (850 m) |
| Clearance above | 65 feet (20 m) (high water) |
| History | |
| Opened | 2003 |
The John F. Limehouse Memorial Bridge is a large bridge in South Carolina, United States. It's located about 15 miles west of downtown Charleston, South Carolina. This bridge was completed in 2003. It replaced an older, low-level swing bridge that used to cross the Stono River. The new bridge connects Johns Island with West Ashley. It was built through a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and the United States Coast Guard.
Why a New Bridge Was Needed
The Stono River is a very important part of the 3,000-mile long Intracoastal Waterway. This waterway is used by many different boats, like barges, fishing boats, and boats used for fun by mariners.
The old bridge, built in 1958, was a problem for these boats. It was a "swing bridge," meaning a part of it would swing open to let taller boats pass. However, it often blocked boat traffic. Because of this, the Coast Guard ordered in 1994 that the old bridge be removed. This left only a few swing bridges in the Coast Guard's area, which stretches from Key West, Florida to the northern parts of South Carolina.
The new bridge is much better! It's a 2,800-foot long concrete structure that is high and fixed in place. This means it doesn't need to open for boats. The new bridge gives boats 215 feet of space to pass horizontally (side-to-side), compared to only 93 feet with the old bridge. Vertically (up-and-down), boats now have 65 feet of clearance above the high-water mark, while the old bridge only offered 13 feet when closed. The new bridge also has four lanes for cars, making travel easier for people going to Johns, Kiawah, Seabrook, and Wadmalaw Islands.
How the Bridge Was Designed and Built
The job of designing the new bridge went to a company called Ralph Whitehead Associates, Inc., from Charlotte, North Carolina. The actual building of the bridge was done by Jones Brothers, Inc. (JB).
The total cost to build this impressive bridge was about $30 million. The United States Coast Guard paid a large part of this, about $21 million. The rest of the money came from the State of South Carolina.
After the old bridge was taken down, its concrete and steel parts were not wasted. The State government gave these materials to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. They used the old bridge pieces to create an artificial reef about 23 miles away at the Kiawah Reef site. This helps create new habitats for marine life. The new John F. Limehouse Memorial Bridge was opened for traffic in June 2003, which was about two months earlier than planned!
