SPI Insights

Oklahoma – State transportation commissioners approved a $1.79 billion FY 2022 Budget Work Program on June 7 that prioritizes bridge grading and rehabilitation projects.

Several major bridge projects are included for FY 2022 in the 8-Year Construction Work Plan developed by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) that orders projects by fiscal year throughout the state.

The state is budgeting $90 million for county road and bridge improvements from motor vehicle collections and $20 million from general appropriations. In addition, it will use a $50 million loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program administered by the Federal Highway Administration.

ODOT is planning to let a $39.04 million bridge and approach project in March 2022 for work on northbound and southbound bridges on Interstate 35 over 63rd Street north of Interstate 40 in Oklahoma County.

In Cherokee County, ODOT is scheduled to let a grade, drain, bridge, and surface project in August 2022 for $38.5 million. Work will begin 1.4 miles north of the U.S. Highway 62/State Highway 51 junction and extend northwest to the State Highway 32/W. 710 Road junction.

Two solicitations are set for November 2021 – one to rehabilitate Canadian County’s U.S. 281 bridge over the South Canadian River for $22.66 million and the other to perform $28.22 million in grade, drain, bridge, and surface work on U.S. 270 southeast of SH 270A to the “Y” intersection at U.S. 270B west of Wewoka in Seminole County.

The U.S. 281 bridge, also known as the Bridgeport Bridge or Pony Bridge, was put into use in 1934 and shown briefly in “The Grapes of Wrath.”