A sculpture of a giant yellow compass was recently installed on one end of Route 66’s Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma.
KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City reports “Compass” pays tribute to the engineering of the 3,900-foot-long bridge, built in 1933 and enhanced for safety and additional longevity just a few years ago.
The 25-foot-tall artwork, created by RE:site Studio of Houston, is yet another attraction added along Route 66 during its centennial this year.
It was built from the same type of yellow, riveted steel as the Pony Bridge. It was commissioned by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
The Oklahoma Arts Council stated:
The sculpture of a drawing compass expresses the gravity-defying nature of bridge design while serving as a metaphor to Oklahomans’ ability to stand strong in the face of adversity. The piece captures some of the whimsical sensibility of roadside attractions and angular motel signage common along Route 66.
The Pony Bridge remains one of Route 66’s most iconic spans. Stretching over the South Canadian River, it consists of 38 yellow “pony” trusses, hence its nickname.
The bridge also appears in the 1939 Oscar-winning film “The Grapes of Wrath.”
(Image of the “Compass” sculpture near the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, via Oklahoma Arts Council)