Case Study #5 for UTCM Report #08-14-03 "Making Mobility Improvements a Community Asset: Transportation Improvements Using Context-Sensitive Solutions"

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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