The State Transportation Department has awarded a $36 million contract to a Texas company to build a new four-lane bridge over the South Canadian river linking the cities of Purcell and Lexington.
Work could start in a month but the new US 77-SG 39 bridge won’t be completed for nearly two years.
The Transportation Commission in its meeting on Tuesday awarded the contract to Webber, LLC of Woodlands, Texas after it was the lowest of three bidders. The contract includes $2 million in incentives for early completion of the project.
The new bridge will replace the troubled two-lane bridge. Engineers stated that half of the new bridge will be built alongside the old bridge and all traffic will be moved over. It will take about one year for the first phase to be finished. Then the old bridge will be removed to make room for the second half of the new bridge. The move will allow the bridge, which carries more than 10,000 vehicles a day to stay open during the two-year construction stages.
“This bridge is a lifeline between two cities that are part of one community. We thank the people of Purcell and Lexington for their patience in 2014 and are so excited that this day has already come,” Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Mike Patterson said.
It was three years ago when the existing 80-year old bridge was closed for more than four months after several cracks were discovered. Repairs were made and since the opening in June 2014, the bridge has been targeted with frequent safety inspections.
“All of the stakeholders recognized the importance of replacing this bridge quickly and came together to help fast-track this project and get it to bid in three years, rather than 10,” Chief Engineer Casey Shell said. “It’s a testament to the good working relationship ODOT has with our state and federal partners.”
The state had not originally included the new bridge in the Transportation Department’s Eight-year Construction Work Plan but after the 2014 closure, work started immediately on preparing a construction project.
