U.S. 17

U.S. 17 travels a coastal route through the South Carolina LowCountry from Savannah and Hardeeville northward to Charleston, Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. An Alternate Route follows a more inland course from Walterboro east to Summerville and north to Georgetown.

U.S. 17 South Carolina Guides

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) completed the single most expensive construction project in state history on July 15, 2005 when the Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge opened to traffic over the Cooper River at Charleston. The 2.5 mile long, eight-lane bridge replaced two aging cantilever spans (the 1929-opened Grace Bridge and 1966-opened Pearman Bridge) that spanned both Town Creek and the Cooper River between the city of Charleston and the town of Mount Pleasant. Design features of the bridge include a 1,546 foot long main span, which was the longest such span in all of North America and signature diamond shaped towers that top out at 572 feet. Construction took four years to complete at a cost of $632 million.^1,3

The Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge accommodates four 12-foot wide travel lanes in each direction and a 12 foot wide bicycle and pedestrian walkway. Both directions have four foot wide inside and outside shoulders. The multi-use path lines the Charleston Harbor side of the bridge between Morrison Drive in Charleston and Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. Viewing platforms extend outward from each tower, providing an opportunity for pedestrians to view the harbor. 128 cables anchor the bridge deck with the towers.¹

John C. Grace Bridge

Construction began on the first Cooper River Bridge between the city of Charleston and town of Mount Pleasant in 1928. John C. Grace, a local Charlestonian, spearheaded support for the crossing. It only took 17 months to build the bridge, which opened on August 8, 1929. The two-lane span measured 2.71 miles in length and cost approximately $6 million to build. When it opened, it constituted the fifth longest bridge in the world, with a 1,050 foot span between its supports. The John C. Grace Bridge provided 150 feet of navigational clearance above the Cooper River.

Tolls were collected for the John C. Grace Bridge at a rate of 50 cents per passenger vehicle. The state of South Carolina purchased the crossing from Cooper River Bridge, Inc., operators of the span, in 1946. Tolls were discontinued following completion of the sale. Unfortunately during that same year a freighter rammed the bridge, knocking down a 240-foot segment of the deck.

Widening of the John C. Grace Bridge took place in 1959 along the Drum Island sections, adding a breakdown lane. Subsequent expansion in 1967 at the west end added a lane for the approach to Charleston. Deterioration by 1979 resulted in a 8-ton weight restriction levied to all vehicles crossing the John C. Grace Bridge. The adjacent Silas Pearman Bridge was converted at that time to accommodate trucks along a single westbound lane, with two lanes remaining for eastbound traffic. Weight restrictions along the John C. Grace Bridge were eventually increased to 5 tons.¹

Silas Pearman Bridge

Dedicated to Chief Highway Commissioner Silas N. Pearman, the northbound U.S. 17 bridge opened to traffic on April 29, 1966 at a cost of $15 million. Preliminary construction began in 1961 and actual bridgework commenced in 1963. The newer bridge accommodated three travel lanes across a 38-foot wide roadway, which was a vast improvement over the ten-foot wide lanes across the John C. Grace Bridge.

The three-lane deck across the Pearman Bridge was reversible, allowing for two northbound and one southbound lane. The truck restriction on the southbound span eventually changed this into a permanent configuration, with the westbound lane dedicated to truck traffic. The Silas Pearman Bridge spanned the Cooper River at a height of 150 feet and Town Creek at 135 feet.¹

Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge

The Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge honors South Carolina State Senator and Congressman Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Ravenel was one of the staunch proponents in the drive to finance and replace the aging Cooper River Bridges, doing so without the implementation of tolls. He used his position in the South Carolina State Senate to successfully convince other officials to replace the bridges "before some great tragedy occurred," referring to the ailing John Grace Memorial Bridge. The span opened one year ahead of schedule, much to his credit.³

The Ravenel Bridge provides 186 feet of vertical clearance above the high tide mark of the Cooper River, near 50 feet above the predecessor bridges. During all phases of bridge construction, both cantilever spans remained in use. During latter stages of work, the Ravenel Bridge actually passed over the old bridges at a point near Drum Island. The spectacle of the bridge work acted as a tourist attraction for the city of Charleston.

18 months of demolition work commenced on the John C. Grace and Silas Pearman Bridges after the July 15, 2005 opening of the Ravenel Bridge. The bridge materials were recycled and used offshore for the creation of artificial reefs.² The Septima Clark Expressway from Interstate 26 eastward to the cantilever bridges was also dismantled.

The reconfigured traffic pattern at the east end of the Ravenel Bridge connects U.S. 17 with S.C. 703 (Coleman Boulevard). This included the addition of Wingo Way Extension, since renamed Harry M. Hallman, Jr. Boulevard, and its on-ramp to the bridge westbound. A two-wye interchange joins U.S. 17 with I-26 west of the span, with U.S. 17 overlaying the freeway south to Septima Clark Parkway, its original course southwest toward Downtown Charleston.

scenes

A trumpet interchange joins Interstate 95 with SR 13 / Bees Creek Road and U.S. 17/278 between Switzerland and Mitchellville. 09/16/21

Although not acknowledged from Road 13, U.S. 278 overlaps with U.S. 17 along Kato Bay Road south into Hardeeville and Jacob Smart Road north into Ridgeland. 09/16/21

A diamond interchange joins Bowman Road with U.S. 17 (Johnnie Dodds Boulevard) in the town of Mount Pleasant. 12/31/17

Connect with:
Interstate 26
Interstate 95
Interstate 526
U.S. 21
U.S. 78
U.S. 278
U.S. 321
U.S. 701
Highway 9
Highway 30 - James Island Expressway
Highway 61
Highway 703

Page Updated 12-05-2022.