Historic Oklahoma bridge gets renovation from U.S. government

One of Oklahoma’s most historic and famous bridges will be renovated thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Bridgeport Bridge, a two-lane bridge on Historic Route 66 near the town of Bridgeport in Caddo and Canadian Counties, will be rehabilitated under the department’s BUILD Grant program. Officials use the program, named the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Grant Program, to repair transportation infrastructure across the United States.

The grant provides the Oklahoma Department of Transportation with $22 million to repair the bridge, officials said.

The Bridgeport Bridge was featured in the 1940 film “The Grapes of Wrath,” which tells the story of an Oklahoma family that heads west to California in search of work during the Great Depression. In the film, the Joad family drives across the bridge, and they bury a deceased relative near it.

The bridge is commonly referred to as the Pony Bridge because it was built using 38 steel “pony” trusses, which are trusses that do not connect at the top. The bridge’s official name is the William H. Murray Bridge.

Members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation said they helped secure funding for the bridge. Sen. Jim Inhofe sent a letter requesting the funding to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao in May.

“I applaud the selection of the Bridgeport Bridge on US-281/Route 66 for a BUILD grant this year,” Inhofe said. “The $22 million in federal grant funds will ensure this historic, 86-year-old bridge is upgraded to meet modern day safety requirements. These improvements are urgently needed for motorist safety, freight mobility, and regional economic growth, while also supporting the historic nature of the bridge and regional tourism. The Bridgeport Bridge project, which will preserve the iconic pony truss spans, will ensure Route 66 remains an important part of Oklahoma’s surface transportation network. Oklahoma alone has the longest drivable stretch of Route 66—also known as Will Rogers Highway—and I am proud to support efforts to ensure this iconic route is taken care of well in to the future.” 

“This administration is making significant investments in infrastructure, and this $1 billion in BUILD grants will repair, rebuild, and revitalize transportation systems across America,” Chao said.

“This grant is great news for Oklahoma drivers and Route 66 enthusiasts worldwide as we approach the centennial celebration of the Mother Road. We are so grateful to Senator Inhofe for his efforts in securing this BUILD grant and for his long-standing commitment and support for improving Oklahoma’s infrastructure,” Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation and Oklahoma Department of Transportation Executive Director Tim Gatz said. “This funding will allow us to make the needed improvements to keep our citizens, commerce and the economy moving safely and efficiently while also honoring the Bridgeport Bridge’s history as one of the most iconic Route 66 structures in the nation.”

“We welcome the news that the Route 66 Bridgeport Bridge project was selected for a BUILD grant,” Route 66 Alliance Executive Director and CEO Ken Busby said. “The upgrades and repairs made possible with this $22 million grant will ensure that Oklahoma’s surface transportation network can continue to support economic growth, while at the same time appropriately preserving the bridge’s historic and iconic structure. We are glad to have a leader like Sen. Inhofe on our side as we continue to keep Route 66 drivable for years to come.” 

“Almost as historic as the man it’s nicknamed after, Route 66 is a critical part of Oklahoma’s highway transportation system,” Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, said. “The investment made by the U.S. Department of Transportation to help restore and upgrade Bridgeport Bridge is welcomed news for local traffic as well as freight haulers and Route 66 tourists.

While ensuring the urgently needed safety improvements are made, the Bridgeport Bridge project will safeguard the historical elements of the bridge- including, the iconic pony truss spans and parts of the original Route 66 pavement. I thank my U.S. Senators for joining me in support of this project, and I look forward to generations of Oklahomans being able make the safe trip across Oklahoma along this historic highway.”

The BUILD Grant Program has provided a combined $7.9 billion to 609 projects across the U.S. since 2009, officials said.