photo provided

photo provided

Despite the minor inconvenience of the road and waterway being closed to allow a new swing span to be put in on the Ben Sawyer Bridge, things are relatively back to normal and motorists are enjoying their new bridge.

But more importantly, so are bicyclists and pedestrians who took on the role of tight rope walkers when trying to cross the old one.

Shortly before 2 a.m. last Friday morning the new bridge opened to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The first vehicle to cross was Chauncey Clark's Model A, driven by Clark, carrying Sullivan's Island Mayor Carl Smith and local residents Tim Holbrook and Philip Hammond.

Town Administrator Andy Benke followed in his vehicle, and the first (and only) runner to cross the renovated span was Sullivan's Island Town Council member Pat O'Neil. Mount Pleasant Town Council Member Paul Gawrych, along with other municipal officials, was instrumental in ensuring a pedestrian path was included in the new plans.

The bridge itself still possesses the small beach town characteristics and the pedestrian path invites visitors to stop over for a while. The extra footage incorporated into the vehicular lanes allows for safe travel for cyclists who must share the road.

Walkers and runners will have a safer go at it too because the new sidewalk is also wider and free from equipment that protruded out onto the older bridge.

The Arthur Ravenel Bridge pedestrian lane is a true testament to what the locals want when it comes to safe walker and biker access. This improvement to the Ben Sawyer Bridge will very quickly prove the same.

Consider it a bridge amenity.

The replacement itself was impressive, having been completed in less than a year and traffic was only re-routed for 11 days. Not bad.

While work continues on the roadsides, no more disruptions in traffic are anticipated.

Kudos to the South Carolina Department of Transportation and PCL Civil Constructors.

Now get out there and walk or ride and enjoy the great views.