Little River swing bridge closed for repairs

The Little River swing bridge along Sea Mountain Highway will be closed to traffic for a couple of weeks while crews repair a gear box, officials said.

The bridge was shut down Thursday after its operators noticed mechanical issues with the 6-ton gear box, which allows the bridge to swing open, said Kyle Berry, district engineering administrator with the S.C. Department of Transportation. Crews plan to start working on the problem this weekend, he said.

Drivers should use the U.S. 17 bridge instead, though the closure will make it more challenging for some businesses and residents along Sea Mountain Highway. The bridge will remain in its open position during the repairs so boats are still able to pass through.

“We ask for everybody’s patience, and we will get it back online as soon as possible,” Berry said.

During this time of year, the bridge usually opens about 900 times a month to allow boats on the Intracoastal Waterway to pass.

The bridge was built in the 1930s, and it was last renovated in 2005, according to DOT.

“We constantly inspect it but it is an older bridge,” Berry said. “Because of its age... things like this are going to happen from time to time.”

Berry said Friday he did not yet know how much the bridge repairs will cost.

This story was originally published June 2, 2016 at 7:36 PM with the headline "Little River swing bridge closed for repairs."