Bryan County bridge replacement projects underway

BRYAN COUNTY, Okla. (KXII) - Bridges across Bryan County are aging. Bridge inspectors came out to South Chickasaw Road Tuesday.

“It’s an old wooden bridge. It’s been there probably since the, I’m going to guess, since the 1960s or 70s,” said Justin Boone, Bryan County District 2 commissioner.

Inspectors wanted to condemn the bridge and close it, but officials were able to derate it to a four-ton bridge to keep it open to cars and pickups only, Boone said.

South Chickasaw Road bridge replacement

Construction is expected to start early next month, paid for by the County Road and Bridge Improvement Fund.

The replacement will cost $205,000, Boone said.

The replacement will be similar to the new bridge recently built over Caney Creek.

“It’ll be a 50-foot long concrete structure. It won’t be a wood structure and it’s going to be a nice bridge,” Boone said.

Next week, a temporary low-water crossing will go in to keep traffic moving during construction.

Additional projects planned

Across the county in District 3, more projects are in the pipeline.

One bridge is being built on the old highway going to Armstrong. That is a $3 million project that came down through PACT funding, Boone said.

In District 3, Brandon Carr says three more bridges are already on the county’s replacement list, funded through the county’s five-year transportation program.

Those include Old Highway 70 over Caddo Creek for 2029, Old Highway 70 over Blue River for 2030, and Blue Branch Road over Sulphur Creek at a later date.

Together, those three are expected to cost $5 to $6.5 million.

“Extremely proud of that we could get that and Brandon, who took the initiative to reach out there, and get that money,” said Boone.