1976 – The first time the idea of a pedestrian bridge over the Ashley River was proposed. Fast forward 43 years, and the City of Charleston finally got its wish.

An $18 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant has been given to the city by the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete a pedestrian bridge that spans the Ashley River, connecting West Ashley + downtown Charleston.

Why is this a big deal? It was nearly an impossible task for those without cars to get from West Ashley to the peninsula, and vice versa. Now, walkers, joggers, runners + cyclists alike will be able to safely + easily cross the Ashley River by means of a standalone bridge. This means significantly cutting the cost of transportation via rideshare for some, increasing the safety of on-foot (or bike) traveling for others, and allowing more opportunities to be environmentally friendly.

The $22 million project’s timeline has not yet been announced.