Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge

The Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge (known locally as the Woods Bridge), is a swing bridge that connects downtown Beaufort with Lady's Island and the outer Sea Islands in Beaufort County, South Carolina. Originally named Lady's Island Bridge, it was renamed in 1971 in memory of Richard V. Woods (1935–1969), who was a South Carolina Highway Patrol officer killed in the line of duty.[2] It was opened on December 17, 1959, replacing an earlier swing-bridge that was built 1927.[3][2]

Woods Memorial Bridge
Coordinates32°25′39″N 80°40′09″W
Carries
 US 21 Bus.
CrossesBeaufort River (Intracoastal Waterway)
LocaleBeaufort – Lady's Island, South Carolina, United States
Official nameRichard V. Woods
Memorial Bridge
Maintained bySouth Carolina Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignMovable swing
Width28 feet (8.5 m)
Load limit20 tons (18 metric tons)
Clearance below30 ft (9.1 m) (closed)
History
Opened1959
Lady's Island Bridge
NRHP reference No.100008530[1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 6, 2023
Location

The bridge swings on its central pier to open for boat traffic that is too tall to clear the bridge, and has an operator's station in the center of the span from which an attendant can operate the bridge. Due to the presence of the Intracoastal Waterway, the bridge is required to open frequently for boat traffic to pass through.

The bridge was featured in the film Forrest Gump (1994) as a stand-in for a bridge across the Mississippi River. In the film, Forrest Gump is interviewed by television reporters about his cross-country running trip while crossing the bridge.[4]

In January 2023, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, under its original name, Lady's Island Bridge.[1]

  • A view of the bridge at night from Downtown Beaufort's Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
    A view of the bridge at night from Downtown Beaufort's Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park
  • The bridge is shown from Lady's Island.
    The bridge is shown from Lady's Island.
  • The bridge is shown in the open position to allow a sailboat to pass.
    The bridge is shown in the open position to allow a sailboat to pass.
  • Roadway view on the swing-span section
    Roadway view on the swing-span section

References
  1. "Weekly list of actions taken on properties: 12/29/2022 through 1/6/2023". National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List. National Park Service. January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  2. "Woods Bridge moves toward national historic designation". City of Beaufort. November 23, 2022. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  3. "Story of the Woods Memorial Bridge: Beaufort's most notable landmark". explorebeaufortsc.com. December 29, 2022.
  4. "Forrest Gump - Movies Filmed in South Carolina". www.sciway.net.

Media related to Woods Memorial Bridge (Beaufort, South Carolina) at Wikimedia Commons

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