Updated 11:34 a.m. Nov. 2
City, county, state and federal officials and advocacy leaders on Monday celebrated the groundbreaking on the Ashley River Crossing project, a coming pedestrian and bike bridge that connects the West Ashley Greenway to Lockwood Boulevard downtown.
The $73 million bridge will also serve as one of the final pieces of the East Coast Greenway, a network of multi-modal greenspace spanning Maine to Florida.
Funding for the project is coming from several sources, including several grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and contributions from the S.C. Department of Transportation, Charleston County and the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments. The city of Charleston is on the hook for about $9 million of the project, said Mayor John Tecklenburg.
“I know it seems expensive,” he said. “But I can tell you 20 years from now, when our citizens are out there enjoying it every day and going back and forth to work, we’re going to be glad we built this bridge.”
The city’s contributions will come from hospitality funds, Tecklenburg said, meaning residents don’t have to watch out for any tax increases.
A major milestone
The Ashley River Crossing not only marks the final piece of the connectivity puzzle of the East Coast Greenway, but also will be the first bobtail swing pedestrian bridge constructed in North America. The unique design of a bobtail bridge means instead of opening vertically to allow ships to pass below, the middle section rotates horizontally to create an opening, just like a vehicle bridge to Sullivan’s Island opens now for boats on the Intracoastal Waterway..
“It was important to make sure that this is not only just a project to connect communities together but also to become a destination,” said state Department of Transportation Secretary Christy Hall. “This bridge will be one of a kind in the U.S. and in North America, and it has to be done right.”
Keith Benjamin, associate administrator for highway policy and external affairs with the Federal Highway Administration, said the project is a key improvement for the tri-county area.
“I just feel like everyone deserves the dignity of access,” Benjamin told Charleston City Paper. “The opportunity we have in building this bridge ensures that people have the freedom of choice, and I think that matters no matter what mode of transportation.”
Benjamin added that he felt it is important not to sit back and rest after the project’s completion, but to keep the momentum going to ensure equitable mobility and access across all of Charleston.
A long time coming
For years, local advocacy groups have been demanding progress on pedestrian and bicycle access connecting West Ashley to downtown Charleston. The Holy City consistently rates as one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians and cyclists due to numerous traffic fatalities. Advocates hope the new access to the city will be the start of a larger time of change for better, safer access.
Data from the state Department of Public Safety show that of 433 bike collisions reported statewide in 2021, 171 happened in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties — representing nearly 40% of all collisions in the state.
Several local projects and proposals have sought to remedy the issues. The city’s Complete Streets program, adopted in 2008, aims to revamp city streets to provide increased connectivity for individuals using multiple modes of transportation including walkers, bikers, people with disabilities and those using public transportation. The People Pedal Plan is also a city-focused initiative to create a more robust cycle system.
The Ashley River Crossing project is set to be the first major step to achieving that goal.
“When we all get together and are determined to solve a problem, when we are determined to prioritize what is the most important thing for the community — which is safe and affordable and equitable mobility — we problem solve,” said Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves. “That’s what we’re seeing today.”
Tecklenburg agreed.
“[Monday’s] groundbreaking is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when we work together,” he said in a press release. “Today, we’re closer than ever to providing a safe connection across the Ashley River and it wouldn’t have been possible without the steadfast support of our federal, state, county and local partners.”
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