Monday, March 9, 2026

1927+1949+2007 SC-45 Bridges over Diversion Canal north of Charleston, SC

1927: (the trusses were repurposed from another bridge that was built in 1927.)
1949: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; HAER)
2007: (Satellite)

I was going to skip another lost truss bridge until is saw that the two deck trusses were designed as through trusses. John's comment below explains why.

SCDOT posted two photos with the comment:
Pictured here in 1950 is the original steel truss bridge on SC 45 over the Diversion Canal in Berkeley County. Built in 1941 as part of a Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie hydroelectric project, this steel truss structure spanned the canal for nearly 70 years.
This bridge was replaced in 2007 with a modern bridge structure. The new bridge was constructed using concrete girders, not steel components. It spans 145 feet and holds nearly 4,000 vehicles each day.
John Fondren: Did you know that those three truss were originally part of the bridge over the Santee River at Santee before the lakes were constructed? They were moved here and repurposed.
1

2

"Significance: The SC 45 Bridge over the Santee-Cooper Diversion Canal is an uncommon example of a reinforced concrete and steel truss bridge. Placement of three original through steel trusses--one a widened through truss and two deck trusses under the road--make this bridge unique in appearance. The South Carolina Highway Department's use of salvaged steel trusses from the U.S. 15 Santee River Bridge, completed in 1927, also adds to the distinctiveness of the bridge. The SC 45 Santee Cooper Diversion Canal Bridge is perhaps the first salvaged bridge project undertaken by the South Carolina Highway Department." [HAER_data]

HAER SC-37-7
7. Distant view of northwest side of bridge, facing southeast. - U.S. 15 Santee River Bridge, SC Road 45 spanning Santee-Cooper Diversion Canal, Eadytown, Berkeley County, SC

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