Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge
The Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge, (known locally as the Woods Bridge) is a swing bridge that connects downtown Beaufort with Lady's Island and the outer Sea Islands in Beaufort County, South Carolina. It carries U.S. Route 21 Business (US 21 Bus.). The bridge is named in memory of Richard V. Woods (1935–1969), who was a South Carolina Highway Patrol officer killed in the line of duty[1] and was opened on December 17, 1959, having replaced an earlier swing-bridge that was built 1927.[1]
Woods Memorial Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 32°25′39″N 80°40′09″W |
| Carries |   |
| Crosses | Beaufort River (Intracoastal Waterway) |
| Locale | Beaufort – Lady's Island, South Carolina, United States |
| Official name | Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | South Carolina Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Movable swing |
| Width | 28 feet (8.5 m) |
| Load limit | 20 tons (18 metric tons) |
| Clearance above | 30 feet (9.8m) (closed) |
| History | |
| Opened | 1959 |
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The bridge swings on its central axis to open for boat traffic which is too tall to clear the bridge, and has an operator's station in the center of the span from which an attendant can operate the bridge. Due to the presence of the Intracoastal Waterway, the bridge is required to frequently open for boat traffic to pass through.
The bridge was featured in the film Forrest Gump (1994) as a stand-in for a bridge across the Mississippi River. In the film, Forrest Gump is interviewed by television reporters about his cross-country running trip while crossing the bridge.[2]
Gallery of images
A view of the bridge at night from Downtown Beaufort's Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
The bridge is shown from Lady's Island.
The bridge is shown in the open position to allow a sailboat to pass.
References
- "Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge". eatsleepplaybeaufort.com.
- "Forrest Gump - Movies Filmed in South Carolina". www.sciway.net.
External links
