The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-05-04
SANTEE RIVER BRIDGE.
Some Details Concerning the Big
Project at Murray's Ferry.

The bridge now under construction
across the Santee river at Murray's
Ferry, about 65 miles above the mouth
of the river, is one of the largest
bridge projects in the Southern states.
1t will be an important link in the
proposed Atlantic Coastal highway.
At the site the main channel is on
ly about $50 feet wide and the swamp
is nearly four miles wide In order
to reduce the maintenance charges
to minimum, all structurers, except
the maiz span, will be of reinforced
concrete. The bridge will have an
IS foot roadway, and will be above
the highest known water. This width,
the minimum used for bridges built
by the State Highway Department,
is believed to be ample for this coun-
try bridge, although a heavy tourist
traffic should develop. AS the Santee
river is navigable stream, a 63 foot
draw span is provided. The main
channel crossing has one 18O foot
through steel truss swing span and
two 12O foot through steel truss fix
spans on concrete piers.
The approach trestles will have a
total length of about 5000 feet.
There ere seven trestles, of lengths
and positions such as to provide for
the most effective discharge of the
food waters. The plans provide for
two types of structure, one, the
pedestal type, having 36 1-2 foot con-
crete beam spans on cast-in-place
bents on timber piles, the other hav-
ing "a 1-2 foot concrete beam spans
on concrete pile bents.
The trestles were designed for
live load Of two 15-ton trucks with
rs per cent. allowance for impact.
The embankments will bs % feet
high, have a total length Of 13,20O
feet, and will require 100000 cubic
yards of earth. Material is to be
taken from borrow pits outside the
swamp. Wooden ratings are used on
the embankments, on account Of the
1isk of settlements causing cracking
of concrete ratings. On the trestles
& simple and pleasing form of con-
crete railing, widely used in the
South, will be applied. AS the bridge
is on tragent and it is extremely
unlikely that a truck could strike
blow normal to the railing, its
strength is believed to be adequate
to give protection to traffic.
In order to protect the trestles
from the heavy drift carried by the
Santee river in flood, strip of land
225 feet wide is provided on the up
stream side of the right of way,
on which the timber is to remain
standing so long as protection of the
tlestles is necessary.
Three river piers are now complet'
ed, 100000 cubic yards of earth fill
are now n place, % concrete piles
have been driven and 376 concrete
piles have been cast. An average Of
more than 10000 cubic yards of earth
fill is now being placed each month.
It is estimated that the structure is
now, at the end of March, 18 per
cent. completed, and the contractors
are planning to have it completed
carly in 1923.
Contracts were awarded to the At
lantis Bridge Company, Roanoke, Va, /
for the main spans; to the Simons- !
Mayrant Company: Charleston, S. c.,
for the substructure of these spans;
and to the Rollin Construction Cor
roration, New York, for the approach
es. The total cost will be about $780, |
900. Funds are provided by the San.
tee Bridge District, composed of the
counties of Charleston, Williamsburg |
and Berkeley, and the Federal Gov
eminent.
The foregoing account is mainly
from the full description in the En-
gineering News-Record, November s, !
1921, written by J. L. Parker, special
bridge engineer, who has immediate
charge of the construction for the !
State Highway Department High :
way Bulletin.
NJ T;r. for Eoo1;chnacc