Feds give $124M to help replace bridge over Lake Texoma

  • A westbound 18-wheeler crosses the narrow two-lane Roosevelt Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 70 just east of Kingston. Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation received a $124M grant from the federal government to help replace the 80-year-old bridge honoring the 32nd U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a four-lane bridge that will also cross Lake Texoma, ODOT reported earlier this month. Curtis W. Awbrey | Southwest Ledger
    A westbound 18-wheeler crosses the narrow two-lane Roosevelt Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 70 just east of Kingston. Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation received a $124M grant from the federal government to help replace the 80-year-old bridge honoring the 32nd U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt with a four-lane bridge that will also cross Lake Texoma, ODOT reported earlier this month. Curtis W. Awbrey | Southwest Ledger

    OKLAHOMA CITY– A $124 million grant from the Federal government will allow Oklahoma to replace a bridge built in 1947 spanning Lake Texoma.

    The Oklahoma Department ofTransportation announced the funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program will allow replace of the historic US-70 Roosevelt Memorial Bridge that connects Kingston and Durant in southeastern Oklahoma.

    The grant is the largest ever for the stateTransportation Department.

    “This is exciting news for the state and we’re grateful to Gov. Stitt and members of Oklahoma’s congressional and legislative delegation and the Federal Highway Administration for seeing the importance of this corridor and helping the department secure an additional funding source,” statedTim Gatz, Transportation Department director.

    He explained the narrow two-lane Roosevelt Memorial Bridge is what he called an “outdated design” and it no longer meets current or future traffic needs.

    In order to replace the bridge, the state will build a new structure immediately south of the existing Roosevelt Memorial Bridge and keep the old bridge open while work is underway. The old bridge carries about 8,500 vehicles a day.

    The new bridge will be four lanes with shoulders, rumble strips and lighting.

    Official estimates indicate a final cost of up to $250 million.The state Legislature in its most recent session approved up to $200 million in bonds for the project.