Update to 3:30 as Last Opening at Wappoo Creek Bridge, AICW Statute Mile 471
Skipper Schmidt is not the first to be stymied by the complicated opening schedule of the HWY 171 Wappoo Creek Bridge. As I told Ray in my reply: Check SSECN first! We have the correct opening times listed as shown in the link below. Wappoo Creek Bridge with a 33ft closed vertical clearance is south of the Ashley River/ICW intersection in Charleston, SC.
Leaving Charleston the literature I had said the bridge will not open after 4 PM due to commuter traffic. When I got there at 3:45, I was informed that the last opening is 3:30, not 4. I anchored and waited until 6:30 with another boat that had the same incorrect schedule.
Ray Schmidt
9/29/2014 Now this from Capt. John J. Kettlewell:
Larry:
I just got off the phone with the District 7 Coast Guard office (Barry Dragon 305-415-6743) and he confirmed that the regulations call for the Wappoo Creek bridge Mile 470.8 to open on the hour and half hour until 4pm through November 30. When I said that apparently the bridge operator was telling people that the last opening was at 3:30pm, he said “We’ll get that fixed.” He further said that the bridge operators in South Carolina sometimes go off on their own with regard to schedules and they have to be reminded from time to time that they are required by law to adhere to the Coast Guard schedule. I was contacted by a boater who went through there recently and the operator refused to open at 4pm.
John J. Kettlewell
I suggest that anyone who does not get a bridge opening at 4pm immediately report it to the Charleston CG station (843-724-7600), which is right near there. I have had to do that before and the CG ordered the bridge tender to open up. Sure, I’ve seen the traffic backed up there and many other places, but until the regulations are changed the bridge tender has to follow them.
John J. Kettlewell
Stay tuned for a follow-up to this issue!
Click Here To View the South Carolina Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Wappoo Creek Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Wappoo Creek Bridge
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