McKinley Washington, Jr. Bridge
Encyclopedia
The McKinley Washington, Jr. Bridge, or the Dawhoo River Bridge, connects Edisto Island
on the coast of South Carolina
to the mainland. The bridge is named for McKinley Washington, Jr. who served in the South Carolina General Assembly
, representing the area and leading the effort to appropriate funds to replace the bridge.
that caused traffic delays when it opened for boats.
The first bridge opened in 1920 and was a single lane swing span which was opened manually by the bridge tender. Funds to build the bridge came from $6,000 in bonds sold by the Township Commissioners for Edisto Island. The sale of bonds being authorized by the General Assembly.
The second bridge opened in 1950. It was a two-lane electrically powered swing span. When closed, it only provided for eight feet of clearance below the bridge for boat traffic.
The current bridge was dedicated on September 25, 1993.
Edisto Island, South Carolina
Edisto Island is one of South Carolina's Sea Islands, the larger part of which lies in Charleston County, with its southern tip in Colleton County. The Charleston County part is a census-designated place. The population was 2,301 at the 2000 census...
on the coast of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to the mainland. The bridge is named for McKinley Washington, Jr. who served in the South Carolina General Assembly
South Carolina General Assembly
The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower South Carolina House of Representatives and the upper South Carolina Senate. Altogether, the General...
, representing the area and leading the effort to appropriate funds to replace the bridge.
History of the crossing
This is the third bridge in the same location, replacing a swing bridgeSwing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
that caused traffic delays when it opened for boats.
The first bridge opened in 1920 and was a single lane swing span which was opened manually by the bridge tender. Funds to build the bridge came from $6,000 in bonds sold by the Township Commissioners for Edisto Island. The sale of bonds being authorized by the General Assembly.
The second bridge opened in 1950. It was a two-lane electrically powered swing span. When closed, it only provided for eight feet of clearance below the bridge for boat traffic.
The current bridge was dedicated on September 25, 1993.