LAKE TEXOMA Several state and federal officials broke ground last Thursday on the $409 million Roosevelt Bridge replacement project, which will replace the more-than-80-yearold section of U.S. Highway 70 spanning Lake Texoma between Durant and Kingston. U.S. Sen. James Lankford joined Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster, Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation Tim Gatz and other state and local leaders for the groundbreaking.
The project received $123.85 million through the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program in July 2024. Lankford’s office described the award as the largest federal transportation grant in Oklahoma history.
“After years of working with the Department of Transportation to obtain federal funding, I’m grateful to have secured the largest transportation grant in Oklahoma history for this project,” Lankford said. “This is a historic investment in southern Oklahoma that will ensure safer, more reliable travel for school buses, truck drivers, families, and tourists that cross Lake Texoma every day.”
The Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, built in 1942, connects southern Oklahoma from east to west. The bridge carries about 12,000 vehicles each day. While U.S. 70 is four lanes on either side of the bridge, the existing structure has only two lanes and no shoulders, contributing to traffic bottlenecks and safety concerns.
Gatz said the $124 million federal grant covers roughly 30% of the project’s total cost, with additional support coming from the state. The Roosevelt Bridge project was one of 19 projects nationwide selected for a Bridge Investment Program Large Bridge Project grant.
The existing bridge will remain open to traffic during construction. The new bridge is expected to open in fall 2029.