Have you ever been in a hurry and got stuck at the Woods Memorial Bridge in downtown Beaufort either leaving from or going to our sea islands? It’s happened to everyone at some point. Ever wish you could know ahead of time if the bridge is closed to traffic so you can plan to “go around” over the McTeer Bridge instead?
Now, you can.
Local app developer Alex Holroyde has just launched a new app called WoodsBridge App, and it will tell you everything you need to know, in real-time.
Available currently in the App Store for iPhone, and just released for Android.
You can find it for iPhone in your app store by searching the app name or by visiting this link.
You can find it for Android in your app store by searching the app name, or by visiting this link.
“I’ve lived in Beaufort long enough to know the bridge runs our lives,” Alex said.
“Whether you’re late to work, trying to get the kids somewhere, or just trying to get home — that bridge is the variable nobody can plan around. The bridge does have a weekday schedule, and WoodsBridge will show you that. But the real problem is the unscheduled openings.”
“Any commercial vessel or barge comes through, and it opens — no warning, no pattern. A few weeks ago it opened at 8:30am on a Thursday morning. Last Friday a barge came through at 5:00pm rush hour — and that thing looked like it was a mile long,” he added.
So, he set out to solve a problem.
The WoodsBridge app gives you a real-time heads-up when the bridge is opening. But it also taps into the community. If you’re driving over and you see a sailboat or vessel approaching, you can hit “Boat Approaching” right in the app and alert everyone that an opening may be coming. People with the app can also confirm when the bridge is open or back to all clear.
It’s people helping people, just like Beaufort has always been.
“It started as a problem I personally wanted solved. Turns out the whole community needed it,” he said.
The app also offers lots of local information.
