Sidney Lanier Bridge

The Sidney Lanier Bridge extends 2,371 meters (7,779 feet) across the Brunswick River, carrying four lanes of U.S. Route 17 at a height of 150 meters (492 feet) above the water. The cable-stayed design links both riverbanks through a symmetrical pattern of steel cables that fan out from tall pylons and support the roadway.

After ship collisions with the original lift bridge in 1972 and 1987, the region decided to build this new structure. The construction opened in 2003, allowing larger cargo ships to pass safely beneath the elevated roadway.

The name honors Sidney Lanier, a Georgia poet who lived in the 19th century. Local residents use the crossing as their everyday route to work, while walkers on the footpath enjoy the wide view over the river mouth.

Drivers use the crossing as part of U.S. Route 17 along the Atlantic coast, while pedestrians walk best early in the morning or late in the evening when traffic thins. The climb to the center of the span is gradual, but the exposed location means wind can be noticeable.

An amateur radio repeater with the call sign WX4BWK is installed on one of the pylons, allowing radio enthusiasts to communicate over long distances along the coast. The equipment broadcasts from this exposed height and reaches an area stretching far inland and across the open water.

Location: Brunswick

Inception: 2003

Official opening: 2003

Length: 2,371 m

GPS coordinates: 31.11639,-81.48472

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28