May 21, 2007

Feeling the broken bridge blues; Though traffic has improved, local businesses say sales are still laggingBy Brandon HonigBeaufortGazette.com

Jane Tarrance sat behind the counter of Collectors Antique Mall on Tuesday perusing “The Pat Conroy Cookbook.”

“I’ve done really good catching up on my reading since the (J.E. McTeer) bridge closed,” said Tarrance, who owns the antiques store in Lady’s Island Center on U.S. 21. “This is the second book I’ve read.”

That’s the silver lining. Here’s the cloud: “I haven’t sold anything all day.”

The McTeer bridge, one of two connectors to Lady’s Island, was damaged April 26 when a crane being carried by a barge struck the bridge. Traffic had to be funneled through the Richard V. Woods Memorial Bridge, causing backups on U.S. 21 and prompting many would-be customers to stay in their homes or stay off Lady’s Island.

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