Charleston Arthur Ravenel Jr. Cooper River Bridge is a photograph by Mark VanDyke which was uploaded on May 9th, 2013.
Charleston Arthur Ravenel Jr. Cooper River Bridge
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, named for the South Carolina senator who initiated fund-raising efforts for its construction, is an eight-lane,... more
by Mark VanDyke
Title
Charleston Arthur Ravenel Jr. Cooper River Bridge
Artist
Mark VanDyke
Medium
Photograph
Description
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, named for the South Carolina senator who initiated fund-raising efforts for its construction, is an eight-lane, cable-stayed suspension bridge connecting downtown Charleston with nearby Mount Pleasant via U.S. 17 over the Cooper River. The main span is 1,546 feet long (the 3rd longest cable-stay in the Western hemisphere), with 128 individual cables connected to two 575-foot high diamond shaped towers. Built to withstand nature and man respectively, the New Cooper River Bridge was designed with 1-acre rock islands around each diamond-shaped tower to prevent shipping accidents, structural features to withstand wind gusts up to three-hundred miles-an-hour, as well as up to a 7.4 magnitude earthquake. Not just a transportation project, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge also includes a 12-foot wide pedestrian and bicycle path named "Wonder's Way," after Garrett Wonders, a Charleston resident who was training for the 2004 Olympics before being killed in a bicycle/vehicle accident. And because I'm a construction guy, the bridge has been widely known as one (if not the most) impressive project in the state's history. Construction proceeded in a design-build project delivery method and a joint venture, resulting in completion nearly one year early and under budget. The bridge officially opened on July 16, 2005.
Uploaded
May 9th, 2013
