SCDOT installs fencing to prevent driving onto Ravenel Bridge pedestrian lane

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Protective fencing has been placed along a portion of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge to prevent motorists from accessing the pedestrian travel lane.

The white fencing can be found near the memorial supports for the old Cooper River Bridge, which runs adjacent to East Bay Street and the Wonders Way onramp.

Officials with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) told News 2 that the fencing was installed in February as a safety measure to “prevent unauthorized entry onto the bike path.”

It follows an incident in November 2023 where an elderly couple from Florida accidentally drove onto the pedestrian path while attempting to follow directions from their navigation device.

With help from law enforcement, the couple drove slowly across the bridge into Mount Pleasant where they merged back onto the road without further incident. The driver was issued a citation.

Shortly after, Charleston Police and SCDOT began discussing ways to increase safety measures for the pedestrian lanes to prevent future incidents.