Johns Island bridges to be replaced soon

Projects being worked out for possible summer start.  They can’t hold a candle to the spans across the Cooper or Ashley rivers, but five heavily traveled small bridges in West Ashley and on Johns Island are deteriorating and soon will be replaced. The state Department of Transportation is finalizing plans to replace three bridges at two water crossings on Savannah Highway in the Red Top area.  Also to be replaced are two bridges at creek crossings on Bohicket Road on Johns Island near Plowground Road. Work on the bridge projects could start early this summer.  The Bohicket Road projects could be delayed by issues regarding the permitting process necessary before wetlands can be altered at those construction sites, said DOT District Construction Engineer David Glenn. The projects haven’t stirred much controversy, but opposition has been aired about the proposed cutting of some grand oaks to allow construction of wider bridges on Bohicket Road. Glenn said that at both the Savannah Highway and the Bohicket Road work sites, plans are to keep traffic moving at all times.  Speed limits may be lowered and lane closings may occur, he said. A temporary bridge is to be built, allowing traffic to bypass the southernmost of the two bridge projects on Bohicket Road.  The temporary bridge will bypass the small span over a tributary of Bohicket Creek.  Building the temporary bridge will mean the loss of some trees. No temporary bridge, however, will be placed at the other Bohicket bridge project for the span over Hoopstick Creek, but every effort will be made to keep traffic moving, Glenn said. The new Hoopstick Creek bridge will be 50 feet wide and 90 feet long.  It will replace a bridge 33 feet wide and 62 feet long.  The bridge at the tributary, 33 feet wide and 43 feet long, will be replaced with one 50 feet wide and 66 feet long, according to permit applications DOT filed with the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. The applications include proposals to mitigate minor losses of wetlands at the bridge projects. Chris Cannon, chairman of the Johns Island Council, a citizens group, said the council has tried to persuade highway officials to find ways to cut fewer grand oaks.  Two large oaks near the highway are slated to be removed, and Cannon said they will be sorely missed. He predicted that once the trees are gone, some people will be angry.  He said highway officials didn’t change their original plans, insisting they were made with sparing the most trees in mind. “We were just hoping to find a way to preserve the canopy over the highway,” Cannon said. Local Highway Commissioner Bob Harrell last week expressed his opposition to removing the oaks that provide shade and scenery for motorists on Johns Island. “The bridges originally got put there without removing those trees,” Harrell said. But Harrell said replacing the five bridges is vital. “All of this is necessary because these bridges are structurally deficient.  If they don’t fix them, they will eventually fall into the river and someone will get hurt,” he said. <snip> This article continues with details regarding other bridges outside of Johns Island.

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