Cooper River Bridges (1929–2005)

The Cooper River Bridges (1929–2005) refers collectively to two cantilever truss bridges that spanned the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina. These bridges were the first fixed crossings of the river, replacing earlier ferry services and connecting the city of Charleston to Mount Pleasant.

The original bridge, officially named the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge (but often simply called the "Old Cooper River Bridge"), opened in 1929. It was a notable engineering achievement for its time and quickly became a landmark. However, its narrow lanes and lack of shoulders, combined with increasing traffic volume, led to growing safety concerns and traffic congestion.

To alleviate these issues, a second bridge, officially named the Silas N. Pearman Bridge, was constructed alongside the Grace Memorial Bridge. The Pearman Bridge opened in 1966 and significantly increased the capacity for vehicular traffic crossing the Cooper River.

For nearly four decades, both bridges served alongside each other. However, due to their age, structural deficiencies, and ongoing maintenance costs, the decision was made to replace both the Grace Memorial and Pearman Bridges with a new, modern cable-stayed bridge.

The Grace Memorial and Pearman Bridges were demolished between 2005 and 2007 following the opening of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, the current Cooper River bridge. Their dismantling marked the end of an era for transportation and a significant change to the Charleston skyline. Remnants of the original bridge piers remain visible in the river.