Photos show swing bridge replaced by fixed span on Hilton Head in 1982

Editor’s note: This story was first published in the Island Packet on Feb. 25, 1982. In honor of The Island Packet’s 50th anniversary, we are republishing stories from our archive.

Ribbon cutting at bridge inaugurates new era

Two pairs of scissors culminated years of hard work Tuesday as the same two women who inaugurated the James F. Byrnes Bridge in 1956 cut the ribbon for the higher, stronger fixed-span J. Wilton Graves Bridge spanning Skull Creek.

Verna G. Crosby and Kay Sconyers Moore did the actual snipping at about noon, but it was Verna’s father and the structure’s namesake, State. Rep. J. Wilton Graves, D-Hilton Head-Bluffton, who received the lion’s share of the credit from speakers at Tuesday’s ceremony.

“J. Wilton Graves is a name synonymous with highways and with excellence in the highway system,” State Sen. Peden McLeod, D-Walterboro, told a crowd of about 200 people on the Hilton head side of the bridge.

“Wilton is Mr. Highway Department in the General Assembly.”

McLeod had nothing but praise for Graves, as did State Sen. James M. Waddell, D-Beaufort, and State Highway Commissioner Paul W. Cobb.

“J. Wilton Graves should probably be praised most of all for his perseverance,” Waddell said. citing Graves’ efforts in getting the Byrnes Bridge underway and sticking through the financial tug-of-war over the new Skull Creek and Mackays Creek bridges.

The senator said the country needs more of the kind of initiative that has resulted in the new bridges.

“The dismaying things is our lack of foresight and vision which threatens to hold back this great nation,” Waddell said.

Reminiscing about the days when ferries and bateaux were the only way to reach Hilton Head, Waddell said if anyone had told him then what was in store for the island he would have laughed in disbelief.

“In the words of the cigarette commercial, ‘you’ve come a long way, baby,’” the senator said.

Cobb said the opening of the first of two two-lane bridges over Skull Creek was a great day for the state as well as the county, and said the building of bridges is more important now than ever before.

“One of the most important needs is bridges,” the highway commissioner said. “We’re at a point in this state when we’ve got to put more money into bridges.”

Along with his praise of Graves and others who contributed to the new bridge, Cobb singled out former Federal Highway Administrator Karl Bowers for which the new Mackays Creek bridges have been named. Since that dedication, Bowers has been convicted of conspiracy and fraud.

Graves described the ribbon-cutting ceremony as one of the greatest days of his life and said the structure was an example of what can be done when people work together.

“This is one of the biggest days of my life,” Graves said. “Today is a day we’ve all been looking for.”

The representative said he was proud of the money Beaufort County has received for highway construction, adding that it’s not “chicken-change” and not easy to come by.

Graves recognized the Hilton Head Chamber of Commerce and the Hilton Head bridge committee for its efforts in securing the bridge. The committee includes William Comella, Irvin Hoff, Ben Grant, Ben Racusin, Ed Mills and Maynard Barker.

The atmosphere atop the 65-foot high bridge was festive, complete with wailing babies and brightly-colored decorations and island notables.

Once the path was cleared of podium, flags and chairs, Graves and his wife, Sadie, got in their car and led a procession of vehicles on a memorable first trip across the bridge.

Hilton Head resident Brenda Henniger gave her mother-in-law visiting from New York and added treat as they were the first “non-official” motorists across the approximately $7-million bridge.

The era of the swing-span bridge leading to Hilton Head officially came to an end Tuesday as construction supervisor Norman Brown made plans to direct traffic onto the new bridge and make the Byrnes Bridge inaccessible to motorists.

The Byrnes Bridge will be dismantled, and work will continue on the adjacent two-lane bridge over Skull Creek, which is scheduled for completion next year.