Give credit where credit’s due — the Oklahoma Department of Transportation restored the original look to a historic bridge on Route 66 that sustained damage in an accident.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association reports the Turkey Creek Bridge east of Canute was damaged during a single-car accident on Oct. 17.
The post includes photographs of the extensive damage to the bridge.
But before the calendar flipped to November, crews from ODOT Field District 5 began to work to restore the span:
The crew had replaced this kind of historic railing before, but never at this scale. According to ODOT, the materials used included 52 bags of concrete, 14 buckets of rock/sand, and the required reinforcing steel to rebuild the rails and pillars. The concrete was then sealed to prevent erosion and help with nighttime visibility. The crew also cleaned up a significant amount of debris and cleaned out all of the downspouts. Overall, the project took over 200 hours and six work days.
“Our District 5 Bridge Crew takes great pride in preserving Oklahoma’s infrastructure, especially historic structures like this one along Route 66,” Jeremy continued. “This project really showcases their adaptability, skill, teamwork, and dedication to quality workmanship. Their willingness to take on challenging projects keeps the traveling public safe while maintaining the character of historical structures.”
The association reports the bridge was built in 1929. The road consists of the original Portland cement road surface for Route 66. It’s near mile marker 48.5 off Interstate 40, on the north frontage road.
(Excerpted image from Google Street View of the Turkey Creek Bridge near Canute, Oklahoma)