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US 301 between Sylvania, Georgia and Allendale, South Carolina.  The Savannah River runs along the state line.  As you cross the bridge heading south, look to your right.  The turnoff to the boat ramp is about 1/4 mile south of the bridge.

 

Tip:
I wouldn't recommend swimming here. The water appeared dark and didn't smell very pleasant.  As for me, I'm not a big fan of water that's not chlorinated.


US 301 - Georgia/South Carolina Border

   This isn't much of a destination, it's more of an interesting side attraction I discovered back in 2003.  I decided to take US 301 as an alternate to the high speed madness of Interstate 95.  For the most part, I was all alone on this old stretch of 2-lane freeway that used to be one of the primary routes from the northeast to Florida.

   As I approached the state line (which is at the top of a tall bridge that crosses the Savannah River) I glanced to my right (heading north) and noticed a relic from the old highway's history: a rusty drawbridge.

   This wasn't any old drawbridge, though.  Instead of raising and lowering, as most do, this one rotated out of the way.  It had been turned to the open position and left that way for years, maybe decades. (see the updates below)

   I'm not sure why things like this are so interesting to me, but I was intrigued enough to turn the car around, cross back over into Georgia, then follow a side road down to a boat ramp, which was right under the old bridge.  There were a few people in a boat, and a few more in the water.  I ignored them and went about taking pictures.

   The approach to the old bridge drops off abruptly (it's blocked so that no one will drive off the edge).  I thought it made for a good photo.  It was so humid along the riverbank, though, that my lens fogged up.

   If I had brought a kayak or canoe, it would have been fun to float over to the old bridge, then climb up it.  Not at all safe, but fun.

   Once you leave the bridge and continue north, you might notice the old road running alongside the new one for several miles.  It's overgrown, and it would be impossible to drive on it, but the raised road might make for an interesting hike.  Send me a note if you try it!

UPDATE: An anonymous visitor wrote me with this information about the abandoned road:

I believe these pictures you took are the same place as the new Greenway Trail. It is funny that I happened to find your post. It has only been opened a few months now. It is a 4 mile trail that leads from the Education Center all the way to the Savannah River. I believe the old road you are talking of may be the road they turned into the trail.

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Ga/SC Border

 

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I drove to Florida last year (2006) and took this way to Florida and it was a much more interesting drive than I-95. I saw this bridge also. Lots of good roadside archeology from the 1950s and 60s and some great "non franchised" food opportunities along this route.

--- Anonymous
 


update: I'm originally from SC, and I remember the draw bridge in your article being shown on TV a day or two after Hurricane Hugo (1989). Yes, the bridge was made to opened side ways, instead of up and down. Hurricane Hugo broke the bridge and twisted it into the open position, and it could not be repaired.

--- J. Ray
 


I would not advise swimming in the water in this area either. Not because the water is dark or because it isn't chlorinated but black water rivers in this area are prime alligator and water moccasin habitats.

--- Mike


update: This is not the bridge that Ray J mentioned in his reply. The bridge that was severely damaged by Hugo was the Ben Sawyer Bridge which spanned the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway between Mount Pleasant and Sulivans Island via SC Hwy 703. Like Ray J, I am a South Carolinian, a Charlestonian to be exact! When Hugo hit I was living in the Columbia area. I evacuated my mother from Charleston just hours before Hugo hit. It was 2 1/2 weeks before we could return her to her home which, surprisingly, sustained little damage.

--- Jim P.
 


I ride this stretch of Highway on my motorcycle, just to go to Sylvania GA. and have lunch. the towns along here are severely poverty stricken. But as you said it is an interesting ride.

--- Carl Childers
 


Hello!

I have enjoyed your comments about your trips to the GA/SC border along US 301. I have travelled that road since the 1950's although not so much anymore. The old swinging bridge was originally the ONLY bridge -- I remember well when traffic went both ways on it. It was a VERY narrow stretch of road and you had to hold your breath it seemed when passing a tractor trailer truck. The road was supported by wooden timbers, and the guard rails were very flimsy. I remember an old truck wreck along that stretch (that is now blocked off). The remains of the truck were just left where they lay, apparently they couldn't get it out of the deep ravine, so they just left it there. Every year after we'd look for it and note the advancement of the undergrowth. I suppose it may still be there,

Eventually, sometime in the late '60s I think, they built the new bridge that is now in use. It became the southbound side and the swinging bridge was the northbound side for a number of years. The attached picture was made in the late '70s, not long before the old bridge was completely closed. I suspect the wooden supports were needing replacement and there was just not enough traffic to justify the cost.

It was very sad to see the deterioration of businesses and livelihoods along 301 after I-95 opened. Of course, for the owners of those places, it was way more than sad, it surely must have been devastating. I can remember dozens of places that are now mostly in ruins, some left no trace at all.



--- Erbie James


 

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