Wappoo Creek Bridge, Bridge in Charleston, United States

Wappoo Creek Bridge is a concrete and steel drawbridge carrying the road between Charleston and James Island over the Wappoo Cut. It opened to traffic on June 12, 1956, replacing a 1926 swing bridge, and was built about 500 feet west of the old span to ease the sharp turns on the approach. Its movable span sits roughly 30 feet above the water, against 10.5 feet on the swing bridge it replaced.

A private company chartered in 1896 raised funds for a crossing, and a wooden toll bridge was later bought by the county in 1918 for $8,500. A 434-foot concrete and metal swing bridge opened in 1926, designed by James L. Parker at a cost of $140,000. The current span, built 500 feet west of the swing bridge, opened on June 12, 1956, at a cost of $900,000.

The bridge is named for Burnet R. Maybank, but the source does not say he was mayor of Charleston; it records only that the 1956 span was named to honor him. The name was given to the current crossing, which opened to traffic on June 12, 1956, replacing the 1926 swing bridge.

The bridge carries the road between Charleston and James Island over the Wappoo Cut, a tidal waterway, so crossings are short but can pause when the span opens for boats. The 1956 span was built about 500 feet west of the old swing bridge to ease sharp turns on the approach.

The 1926 swing bridge had a roadway only 20 feet wide and a 434-foot concrete and metal span. Its replacement was built about 500 feet west of the swing span to ease sharp turns on the approach, and surveying for the new drawbridge began in 1954.