The Cooper River Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge cost $632 million to build. It was opened to traffic on October 4, 2011. The bridge is named after South Carolina's longest-serving governor, who died in 1974 at the age of 58. Before his death, he had been elected and re-elected three times as the state's chief executive. Cooper River bridges have been part of South Carolina's road network since 1911 when the first bridge over the river was built. This original structure was a swing bridge that used to open to allow ships to pass through. In 1951, a new fixed cable-stayed bridge was built a few hundred yards north of the old one. This new bridge served both vehicles and pedestrians with two wide lanes for each purpose. It also had a large pedestrian and bicycle path that crossed over the top of the structure so people could get from one side to the other without having to use the roads. In 1999, the old bridge was closed to all but foot traffic and converted into a multi-use trail. A few years later, the new bridge was also closed to all but foot traffic and made into a similar trail. These trails are now used by runners, bikers, and walkers.