Ashley River Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Path Project
The goal of the Ashley River Bridge Retrofit project is to provide bicycle and pedestrian access
between West Ashley and the Charleston peninsula. It involves the retrofit of the northbound US 17 Ashley
River Bridge to provide a dedicated shared use lane that would represent a
major extension of the West Ashley Greenway.
STUDIES CONDUCTED
Consultants working for Charleston County, in coordination with
SCDOT staff, have conducted studies to develop a feasible plan
to safely accomplish this goal. In 2007 Atlantic South
Consulting Services in cooperation with Dennis Corporation
conducted a feasibility study which identified alternative
routes for the West Ashley approach alignment to the bridge. At
that time, it was envisioned that a cantilevered shared use
structure could be retrofit onto the existing
Ashley River Bridge
structure providing a separated path to the peninsula.
Click here
to view the 2007 Ashley River Bridge Study
Subsequent to the 2007 study, Atlantic South Consulting Services teamed with HDR, Inc. to prepare a detailed study of the existing conditions of the northbound US 17 Bridge to determine if it were possible to retrofit a shared use lane onto the existing structure.
Through the course of the study, it was discovered that the additional loads created by the retrofitted bike/ped lane would exceed the allowable load limits of the existing bridge. The findings of the study completed in 2010 have made it apparent that it is not possible to attach a cantilevered shared use lane onto the bridge without significant reconstruction or complete replacement of the structure.
Click here to view the 2010 Summary Report
Charleston
County continues to pursue an option to provide
bicycle and pedestrian access across the
northbound US 17 Ashley River Bridge. Therefore, a Traffic Study
of the bridge was recently completed by HDR, Inc. to determine
the feasibility of converting the outer right-hand northbound
lane to a dedicated bike/ped lane separated from the traffic
lanes by a barrier. This option would taper the existing
four-lane traffic into three lanes within the approach to the
bridge. The study evaluated the traffic impacts if one travel
lane were removed. Based on current traffic volumes, the studied
results are favorable. However, further study is recommended in
order to provide an optimal and safe condition for both
motorized and non-motorized traffic.
Click here to view the 2011 Ashley River Bridge Traffic Study
Click here to view an Alternate Approach Route Option
Key benefits related to the project:
- Connecting downtown Charleston to the West Ashley Greenway
- Recreational and aesthetic value for the community
- Provides a safe alternative mode of transportation for commuters and visitors to the Charleston area
Project Status
Not available at this time
Past Public Meetings
No information available at this time
Drawings & Maps
Not available at this time
Project Schedule
Not available at this time
Project Documents
Not available at this time
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