Oklahoma’s Bridgeport Bridge is a structure with many names. Also known as the Pony Bridge and the William H. Murray Bridge, the structure, which stretches across U.S. Route 66, was rated as structurally deficient after 90 years of service to Canadian and Caddo Counties.
In 2019, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) determined that even with continued maintenance, the bridge would be closed to all traffic by the end of 2020.
Determined to keep the flow of traffic moving, ODOT hired STV to design a revitalization project, and it hired Oklahoma Bridge Company, Inc. as the contractor.
As the project began in October of 2022, ODOT considered a complete demolishment and replacement strategy, However, after receiving feedback from historic preservation parties, ODOT decided to rehabilitate the bridge.
Route 66 and bridge enthusiasts are glad that ODOT chose this path. The revitalized bridge is wider, but it maintains the charm that makes it a beloved structure. For the project’s success, it is our No. 7 bridge of 2024.
The Bridgeport Bridge had 38 unique 100-foot pony truss spans that were originally designed to be load-bearing but were unable to support the bridge long-term due to increased traffic levels in the region.
The project team used advanced inspection techniques that would provide detailed information of the substructure’s condition. Ground penetrating radar surveys and half-cell potential measurements were the first methods to assess any signs of corrosion.
A thorough nondestructive evaluation of the foundation elements was conducted.
STV worked closely with the ODOT Bridge Division to determine which sections of the substructure could be preserved.
They decided to retain portions of the existing columns, drilled shafts and struts, maintaining the integrity of the historic structure.
This project was completed in one phase with the roadway closed at the bridge.
STV’s design team used full-depth precast concrete deck panels on the bridge. The design of the deck panels involved a three-phase approach to ensure functionality and ease of construction.
The interior deck panels were designed using traditional flexural design methods. They were verified for the construction phase and the final design to ensure they met all structural requirements.
Ultra-high performance concrete joints connected the deck panels and were designed using Federal Highway Administration guidelines for strength, durability and ease of assembly.
The overhang deck panels used finite element method models to simulate loading conditions. They were connected to the first interior deck panel. This reduced construction time on the project.
Replacement of the existing truss spans was necessary, and concrete pier caps were designed to retrofit the existing columns that were part of the original construction.
Each truss is a 100-foot unit weighing approximately 40,000 pounds each, with 76 trusses total.
The project team removed each of them, staging them at a separate location, sandblasted them, added silicone to the joints to prevent rusting, repainted them and set each truss back along their corresponding pier cap.
Reinstalling all of the trusses took 17 days to complete.
With the upcoming centennial anniversary of Route 66, ODOT wanted to open the bridge before 2026.
The project ended in May, and the widened bridge can now carry more vehicles safely over the South Canadian River. A new parking lot and viewing area was included at the end of the bridge.
The bridge is part of a 17.7-mile corridor that is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Bridgeport Bridge celebrates America’s history. Its past played a key role in the Dust Bowl migration. Now, in the rehabilitated state, its history is preserved while allowing the structure’s future to be written.
Project: U.S. Route 66 Bridgeport Bridge Revitalization
Location: Hinton, Okla.
Owners: Oklahoma Department of Transportation
Designer: STV
Contractor: Oklahoma Bridge Company, Inc.
Cost: $35,500,000
Length: 4,000 Feet
