The project involves replacing two aging bridges, a 2-lane and a 3-lane, with a modern 8-lane bridge over the Cooper River in South Carolina. The design focuses on community input, aesthetic enhancements, and improved traffic safety, including features like pedestrian paths and scenic overlooks. It is the highest-cost public works project in South Carolina and aims to address congestion and structural issues while enhancing local connectivity.

1. Project 5
Cooper River (Arthur Ravenal Jr.) Bridge
Charleston-Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
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2. Project
 Spans 2½ miles including ship channel
 Replace, increase capacity of 1929, 1966 bridge pair
 Weight-limited (structural deterioration)
 Congested
 High maintenance
 Provide 8 lanes
 Obsolete design criteria
 No shoulder, medians
 Steep grades10 foot lanes
Source: http://maps.google.com/
 Insufficient vertical clearance over ship channel
 Improve interchanges on bridge approaches
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3. Project
Replace one 2-lane and one 3-lane
bridge with an 8-lane bridge and
improve connections to I-26 and local
roads.
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4. CSS Approach
 Agency partnership
 State infrastructure bank
 SCDOT
 Charleston County
 South Carolina State Port Authority
 FHWA
 Proactive partnership with community
 Compatibility
 Environmental mitigation
 Design input
 Expedited environmental permitting
 Other features
 Public work sessions
 Public outreach campaign
 Collaboration with other agencies, citizens, stakeholders
 Citizen vote on bridge tower design
Photo source: http://ravenelbridge.net/small/jul_12_bridge_south_blog.jpg 4

5. CSS Design Features
 Sensitivity to community features
 Aesthetic treatments
 Decorative lighting
 Hand rails
 Light poles
 Citizen approved tower design
 12 foot ped/bike path
 Scenic overlooks Source: http://www.gcbl.org/system/files/cooper_river_thumb_0.jpg
 Rock islands at tower bases (prevent damage by ship)
 Decorative lighting (off during turtle season)
 Relocation of some displaced trees
 Parks, open space in old bridge alignment
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6. CSS Design Features (cont.)
Longest cable-stayed bridge in North America. Highest cost public works project in South Carolina history. Source: Google Earth
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7. CSS Design Features (cont.)
West (left) and east approaches and
interchanges. Source: Google Earth
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8. CSS Design Features (cont.)
West approach during late construction phase. Source: http://www.ravenel.net
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9. CSS Design Features
Source: http://www.freyssinetusa.com/images/freyssinet/lightbox/stay_cable_1.jpg
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