Bridge closures based on conditions

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Brad Franko

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By Brad Franko
Anchor
Published: September 5, 2008

We are being flooded with calls about the bridges and whether they will be closed and if so when. Charleston County emergency managers sent us the policy in regards to those closures.

Essentially it’s a case-by-case basis and they will rely on the officers on the roads to tell them when conditions become hazardous.

Here is the release from Charleston County:

The decision to close bridges is not under the authority of the Charleston County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Bridge conditions are monitored by local law enforcement, who may impose restrictions on certain vehicles.

Draw Bridges:
Draw bridges (bridges that can be mechanically manipulated to open and allow for tall boat traffic to pass through from the water) WILL be locked down to boat traffic when sustained winds reach 25 mph or greater.

“High profile vehicles,” 10,000 pounds or greater, may be given a restriction advisory from the following bridges when sustained winds reach 30 mph or greater:

• Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge
Hwy 17 in both directions between Mt. Pleasant and downtown Charleston

• Don Holt Bridge
I-526 over the Cooper River between North Charleston and Daniel Island

• McKinley Washington Bridge
Hwy 174 over the Edisto River near Edisto Island

• Wando River Bridge
I-526 over the Wando River in Mt. Pleasant

• Westmoreland Bridge (The “North Bridge”)
I-526 over the Ashley River between North Charleston and West Ashley

“High profile vehicles” are:
- “box type” trucks similar to those operated by the United Parcel Service
- tractor trailers
- motor homes
- vehicles pulling travel trailers, box type trailers, large sail boats or other watercraft