T&T: Lady's Island Swing Bridge-Beaufort SC, Mile 536.0

[Jim Ague]

> Hmm, that is a punitively restricted schedule for bridge openings...  It 
> is not my ox that is gored here, but several thoughts come to mind...
>
>  First, the bridge across a navigable waterway is supposed to open on 
> demand for water traffic as the waterway was there before it was 
> obstructed by installing the bridge.

Your legal analysis may be correct here, I don't know, but I think what is 
going on here is to handle an emergency situation. There are only two 
bridges from the Port Royal and Beaufort, SC, area to heavily populated 
Ladys Island and St. Helenas Island, and one of them, the 65' high rise 
bridge is temporarily closed to vehicle traffic. This is putting a great 
load on the bridge in question.

Unfortunately the bridge in question is a swing bridge and must now go on a 
limited opening schedule to handle boating traffic. Fortunately this bridge 
has 30' clearance and probably limits most sailboats and only a few 
recreational powerboats.

-- Jim Ague