Posted on 07/16/2005 5:42:49 PM PDT by SmithL
Charleston, S.C. -- Hundreds of people filled an eight-lane highway in place of cars and trucks Saturday to dedicate the $632 million Ravenel Bridge over the Cooper River, the longest cable-stayed span in North America.
"We have created not only a bridge, but a thing of beauty," said Arthur Ravenel Jr., the former state senator and U.S. congressman for whom the span is named.
The bridge's 1,546-foot main span is supported by cables stretching down from the tops of a pair of diamond-shaped, 570-foot-tall towers. Unlike suspension spans such as San Francisco's Golden Gate, where the deck is suspended beneath two hefty main cables that connect the towers in a lengthy curve, the Ravenel cables extend directly from the towers to the deck.
"It's a wonderful, beautiful structure," Ravenel told the crowd of at least 1,500 people.
The eight-lane bridge, which took four years to build, carries U.S. 17 between Charleston and Mount Pleasant, along with pedestrian and bicycle lanes. The main span is about 200 feet above the water and will allow larger cargo ships to enter the port. Construction began four years ago, and the bridge was finished about a year ahead of schedule.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The Robert Byrd Memorial ... Oh, wait! Wrong state!
Please Disregard.
Our Big Mac has never gotten the recognition it deserved. It had the unfortunate fate of being built in a sparsely populated area of northern Michigan.
It was the worlds longest single span suspension bridge at just over 5 miles including approaches until two longer bridges of the same type were completed in Japan in about 95.
It's a true engeneering marvel and I get a thrill everytime I cross it.
Always a smartass!! LOL
I'm outside of Columbia, and I sure wish I could've been down there Thursday night for the fireworks show. At the conclusion of the fireworks show, they turned on the lights on the bridge for the first time. I can't wait to see the bridge, because I'm sure the pictures just don't do it justice.
Th' Chah'st'n skyline jus' won't be da same widdout th' ol' Coopah Rivah bridges stickin' up der!
Go here: http://www.abcnews4.com/news/stories/0705/240966.html for an article about the bridge and check out the pic they used. LOL
It'd be cool to ride across, methinks.
I've ridden across the Golden Gate several times, but have been too busy watching out for homicidal cagers to enjoy the view.
My wife is from Charleston and I always hated driving over the "old" Cooper River bridge. It always struck as an exceptional rickity old thing...of course I grew up in the desert in Arizona so driving over large bodies of deep water was a pretty alien concept to me!
Is English your second language? or are you a tourist.
Put your ass on a motorcycle in traffic sometime, chump. You'll catch on.
I've always loved jogging across the Golden Gate Bridge. It's about three miles, round trip. Maybe all you Charleston people will be taking in a fabulous view while you exercize. Maybe I'll join you.
" I always hated driving over the "old" Cooper River bridge. It always struck as an exceptional rickity old thing..."
Been to Charleston many times and crossed the "old" bridge everytime we go. Like you, the Cooper river bridge gave me the willies. May drive down next weekend and check it out.
I love the Big Mac too! We go across it 2-3 times a year when vacationing "Up North". It's a thrill every time we go. We also can't wait to go over the new Cooper River bridge next time we're down in the Charleston area. It looks very cool as well.
And of course, you hold your feet up the whole way across, right? :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
