We want to provide a brief update on the closed walk bridge on the trail behind the tennis center. Many of you have asked about it, and we appreciate your patience while it has been closed.
We closed the bridge after an engineering inspection found structural problems that made it unsafe to use. Repairs weren’t a practical fix, so we have been working toward a full replacement. The bridge is owned by the City of Charleston and maintained by DITA, and we have worked closely with the City from the very beginning. That partnership is a big reason we are as far along as we are. Here is where things stand.
The design and engineering for the new bridge are complete. Because the bridge crosses a tidal area, the work falls under the State’s coastal critical area rules. Our surveyors have marked the critical line, which is the State’s boundary for tidal waters and marsh, and surveyed the site. That work is required before the State reviews a permit application.
The City has signed the permit application as the owner of the bridge and designated our Director of Operations, Tony Elder, to serve as the applicant and manage the project through construction. Our engineers are now submitting the application, along with the full design, to SCDES.
At the same time, we are putting the replacement out to bid. Running those two steps side by side instead of one after the other should save us real time. Our goal is to have a contractor ready when the permit is approved so we can move straight to construction.
The permit review is in the State’s hands, and we can’t give you a firm reopening date yet. We would rather provide a real timeline once the permit is received and the contractor selected so we know their availability. We will provide an update once we have accomplished those milestones and have a timeline.
Until then, please stay off the bridge and respect the closure signage. They are there for your safety.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding. If you have questions, please reach out to Tony Elder at anthony.elder@dicommunity.org or 843-412-2260.
