Ashley River Memorial Bridge Marks 100 Years
The Charleston span, which has linked the peninsula and West Ashley since 1926, is recognized Monday at Brittlebank Park.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Openings & Closings
The Ashley River Memorial Bridge, which opened in January 1926, will be recognized Monday for 100 years of service. The span was dedicated later that year as a memorial to South Carolinians who died in World War I.
Why it matters
The centennial marks a long-standing connection between the Charleston peninsula and West Ashley, a route Charleston residents have relied on for a century. The occasion also comes as work continues on the nearby Ashley River Crossing bicycle and pedestrian bridge.
The bridge has operated for 100 years since its January 1926 opening. Its western bascule section was destroyed in an October 5, 1955 collision with the oil tanker Fort Fetterman, which investigators attributed to negligent navigation.
The players
Ashley River Memorial Bridge
A Charleston span linking the peninsula and West Ashley that has operated since 1926 and was dedicated as a World War I memorial.
Fort Fetterman
The oil tanker that struck the bridge's draw span in 1955, with investigators later determining the crash resulted from negligent navigation.
The details
The Ashley River Memorial Bridge was dedicated later in 1926 as a memorial to South Carolinians who died in World War I. On October 5, 1955, the tanker Fort Fetterman struck the span while passing through its draw section, destroying the western bascule; investigators found the vessel's operators had failed to account for wind and tidal conditions.
Timeline
• January 1926: The Ashley River Memorial Bridge opens to traffic.
• 1926: The bridge is dedicated as a World War I memorial.
• October 5, 1955: The Fort Fetterman tanker strikes the draw span.
• Monday: A centennial recognition ceremony is held at Brittlebank Park.
Legacy Infrastructure
The 1955 Fort Fetterman collision, which destroyed the bridge's western bascule section, is the central incident in the span's record of service. The centennial recognizes a structure that has survived that damage and remained in use while a newer pedestrian crossing is built nearby.
Residents who cross the Ashley River between the peninsula and West Ashley will see the bridge recognized at a public ceremony at Brittlebank Park on Monday. The nearby Ashley River Crossing project is described by city officials as on schedule and within budget.
The takeaway
A structure that has carried traffic for a century is a reminder that infrastructure outlasts the incidents that damage it. The bridge's record offers a useful frame for residents tracking the pace of new crossings in the area.
Further reading
For more on local infrastructure changes, browse Openings & Closings in Charleston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WCBD 2 - Charleston.
