I just read the notice below on the AGLCA (American Great Loop Cruisers’ Assocation) mailing list, and called Mandy Griffin (co-owner) of the Downtown Marina of Beaufort, without delay. Mandy was very surprised to hear about the upcoming change in the Lady’s Island Bridge’s opening schedule, and allowed as to how they had heard nothing about this upcoming alterating until my phone call.
Captain Mandy further informed me that the “construction” referred to below on the McTeer – High Bridge (St. M. 539) involves converting this span to four lanes of highway traffic. Sounds like this project may take some time to complete.
The USCG notice copied below does look very official, so I think it reasonably safe to say that beginning 1/10/10, and for some time to come, the Ladys Island swing bridge will be on hourly openings. By the way, the sort-of official name for this bridge is “Woods Hole” but EVERYONE calls it the “Ladys Island Swing Bridge.”

At the request of the Lady’s Island Business Association, the Woods Memorial Swing Bridge in Beaufort, SC will go onto a once per hour opening schedule beginning 1/10/10 per the attached Coast Guard Notice. This temporary schedule will likely be in effect until construction on the McTeer High Bridge is complete.
Chuck Gorgen
ODYSSEE

The temporary change in regulation you requested is approved and will appear in the Local Notice to Mariners effective January 11th 2010. The temporary regulation will read:
Due to ongoing construction of the new McTeer Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 539.0, Port Royal, South Carolina; Beaufort County has requested that the federal regulation on the Woods Memorial (Lady’s Island) bridge be changed to: The draw need only open at the top of the hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the exception of between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. when the bridge need not open. This will be in effect Monday through Friday except for federal holidays. Tugs with tows, vessels in distress and public vessels of the United States shall be passed at any time.
We will also issue a Temporary Federal Regulation that will say the same that will be in effect, one year from the time it’s published. Please feel free to call this office if you have any additional questions.
Respectfully,
Gene Stratton
Bridge Management Specialist
Seventh Coast Guard District
Miami, FL
305-415-6740

The new schedule for the opening schedule for the Woods Memorial Bridge from Beaufort to Lady’s Island, SC was confirmed in the local Beaufort Gazette this morning. The announcement stated: “The Woods Bridge will open at the top of the hour between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The bridge will open at any time for tugs with tows, vessels in distress and pubkic vessels of the United States.
On weekends and federal holidays, the bridge will swing open upon request”
This schedule starts on Monday, January 11, 2010 and will likely last for a year or more while the McTeer Bridge is under construction. Vertical clearance under this bridge is 30′ at high tide and we have an average tide swing of over 7′, so this schedule should have little affect on most of our members doing the Loop.
Chuck Gorgen
ODYSSEE