Carries SC 174 Maintained by SCDOT Opened 1993 Total length 1,702 m Bridge type Girder bridge | Crosses Dawhoo River ID number 001040017400400 Clearance below 21 m Width 16 m | |
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Official name McKinley Washington Jr. Bridge Location Charleston, Edisto Island, South Carolina Similar Edisto Island Baptist C, Hutchinson House, Edisto Island Presbyter, Edisto Island Historic P, Cassina Point |
The McKinley Washington Jr. Bridge, or the Dawhoo River Bridge, connects Edisto Island on the coast of South Carolina to the mainland. It carries South Carolina Highway 174. The bridge is named for McKinley Washington Jr., who served in the South Carolina General Assembly, representing the area and leading the effort to appropriate funds to replace the bridge.
History of the crossing
This is the third bridge in the same location, replacing a swing bridge that caused traffic delays when it opened for boats.
The first bridge opened in 1920 and was a single lane swing span which was opened manually by the bridge tender. Funds to build the bridge came from $6,000 in bonds sold by the Township Commissioners for Edisto Island. The sale of bonds being authorized by the General Assembly.
The second bridge opened in 1950. It was a two-lane electrically powered swing span. When closed, it only provided for eight feet of clearance below the bridge for boat traffic.
The current bridge was dedicated on September 25, 1993.