From staff reports
UPDATE at 1:40 p.m. — Woods Bridge has reopened to traffic per a Nixle alert sent out by the Beaufort Police Department.
Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge is closed to traffic for “an undetermined amount of time,” according to a Nixle release from the Beaufort Police Department.
The release stated that the bridge has been closed for maintenance due to a malfunction and motorists need to find an alternative route.
An update on Facebook from Rep. Shannon Erickson states that a S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) technician responded immediately after the bridge closed just after 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 16, and found that the issue with the bridge today is that a piece of the resistance barrier will not return to its normal position after opening the bridge.
The post states that it appears that the bridge was struck by a vehicle or a wide load, which is what bent the resistance barrier.
Currently, the bridge can swing open, but it cannot close back.
She states that the technician is currently trying to bend the metal barrier back into position so that the bridge can open and close safely, but at this time the bridge will remain closed to traffic indefinitely.
For those who need to get across to Lady’s Island, the McTeer Bridge is open to traffic.
