Socastee swing bridge opens “on demand” UNLESS water traffic becomes heavy, as on a weekend, then bridge closures may be required every 15 minutes to accommodate road traffic. This is an understandable situation where the tender is responding to “on demand” from both boaters and drivers. Fortunately, this is a quiet section with no adverse currents to affect vessels having to circle or anchor.
HOWEVER, all of us here at the SSECN share Orient Moon’s mystification as to why the state of South Carolina spent many millions of dollars to construct a high-rise span, and then left, the old, decrepit swing bridge in place. You must have to be a politician to understand!

This bridge is a pain, you never know what to expect. They built a new high rise bridge next to it so I don’t understand why they cannot abide to their on demand status.
Orient Moon

Click Here To View the Cruisers’ Net’s South Carolina Directory Listing For Socastee Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Socastee Bridge