Traffic alert: Woods Memorial Bridge closed Thursday for an ‘undetermined amount of time’

Evan McKenna
·2 min read

Update: The bridge was reopened to vehicle traffic around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Woods Memorial Bridge was closed to traffic for maintenance around 10 a.m. Thursday “for an undetermined amount of time,” according to the Beaufort Police Department.

The iconic swing bridge connecting downtown Beaufort to Lady’s Island carries about 14,000 cars daily, so closures can majorly impact traffic across northern Beaufort County. Motorists can use U.S. 21 (Lady’s Island Drive) as an alternate route.

The bridge has closed for mechanical issues at least five times in the past year, prompting the S.C. Department of Transportation to begin a $500,000 fix for the structure’s aging gates late last year. It was not immediately clear when the repairs would be completed, although SCDOT previously said they hoped to wrap up the project by Memorial Day.

As of 11:50 a.m. Thursday, Google Maps showed considerable traffic backups spanning nearly the entirety of Ribaut Road — an already-busy route through Port Royal and Beaufort that bears the brunt of diverted traffic during the bridge’s closures.

“When the Woods bridge goes down, it creates mayhem in Port Royal,” town manager Van Willis previously told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. “Every bit of traffic then needs to go through that intersection (Lady’s Island Drive and Ribaut Road).”

The Woods Memorial Bridge was closed to vehicle traffic around 10 a.m. Thursday morning for mechanical issues, blocking the main flow of traffic between downtown Beaufort and Lady’s Island.
The Woods Memorial Bridge was closed to vehicle traffic around 10 a.m. Thursday morning for mechanical issues, blocking the main flow of traffic between downtown Beaufort and Lady’s Island.

Recent closures were caused primarily by electrical issues with the gates that block motorists on U.S. 21 when the bridge opens for boat traffic, said Rob Perry, SCDOT’s chief bridge engineer. The bridge’s circuits are prone to malfunctions due to their proximity to salt water.

Opened for service in 1959, the 248-foot span was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2023. It was featured prominently in the classic film “Forrest Gump” as a stand-in for a bridge across the Mississippi River.

SCDOT did not immediately respond to questions sent via email Thursday morning.

This report will be updated.