Greenville in Greenville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Liberty Bridge
Throughout the 1990’s completing elements variously described the bridge as either an impediment to Greenville’s growth, or as a ‘perfectly good bridge.’ Though many master planning studies from the 1980’s called for the bridge’s removal, a 1990 traffic study projected a potential cost to motorists at $3 million a year should the highway be removed.
In 2002, with support from the Carolina Foothills Garden Club, local developers, and multiple community newspapers, Mayor Knox White and City Council voted to acquire the highway bridge, and immediately demolished it. Over 3,000 tons of concrete and steel were removed with the destruction of the highway bridge, clearing the way for the new pedestrian-only Liberty Bridge.
Designed by Architect Miguel Rosales, the Liberty Bridge is the only curvilinear suspension bridge in the United States. It spans 345 feet and rises 50 feet above the rocky Reedy River. It is 12 feet wide, with an 8” thick concrete deck supported by 80mm suspension cables. Two 90 foot steel masts weighing 28 tons each, lean at 15-degree angles, with 70 foot deep foundations.
Welcome to Liberty Bridge
(captions)
Schlaich Bergermann and Partners Structural Engineers, Stuttgart, Germany
Rosales and Partners Architects, Boston, MA
Erected by City of Greenville.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Parks & Recreational Areas.
Location. 34° 50.712′ N, 82° 24.111′ W. Marker is in Greenville, South Carolina, in Greenville County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and Falls Park Drive, on the left when traveling south on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 S Main St, Greenville SC 29601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Welcome to Falls Park (here, next to this marker); Dr. Charles Hard Townes (within shouting distance of this marker); Tate Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Vardry Dixon Ramseur, III (within shouting distance of this marker); Falls Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Harriet Smith Wyche (within shouting distance of this marker); History of Falls Park (within shouting distance of this marker); The Touchstone House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.
Also see . . .
1. Liberty Bridge. Visit Greenville (Submitted on March 24, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Liberty Bridge. City of Greenville (Submitted on March 25, 2021.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.