Damaged highway bridges had the attention of Oklahoma Transportation Commissioners at their recent meeting.
They were updated by Transportation Department Executive Director Tim Gatz on a recent bridge hit to the Randall Ave. bridge over I-40 in Elk City. An over-height vehicle carrying an excavator hit the bridge on August 17 resulting in several damaged bridge beams and spans and closing Randall Ave. A $670,000 emergency contract was awarded and work began last Thursday, narrowing eastbound I-40 to one lane for two weeks.
A week after the I-40 bridge hit, an overhead sign on I-35 in Ardmore was destroyed by a raised bed of a dump truck. Gatz told commissioners crashes like these are a reminder to drivers to put safety first and secure your load prior to travel. These crashes cost taxpayer dollars to repair and also pose a threat to other driver’s safety. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 700 fatalities a year are attributed to unsecured loads. Safety outside the vehicle is just as important as safety inside.
“These are just two examples of over-height issues we deal with on our highway network far too often and unsecured loads are not just a danger to the highway infrastructure but are also a danger to the other drivers on the road,” said Gatz.
“We are reminding drivers across Oklahoma to measure your load and make sure it is secure. You have to pay attention to what you are doing and recognize the responsibility you have as a traveler on the highway system.”
Commissioners voted to approve a contract to replace the Tower Bridge on Route 66/US-281 over an unnamed creek just north of Hinton in Caddo County. The $3 million project will begin mid-September to widen and replace the bridge and will close the bridge at Broadway Ave. with a local detour in place. Crews estimate completion in Spring 2025, well in advance of the Route 66 Centennial.