Landmark Bridges in Oklahoma Endangered

Here is some news from Route 66 in Oklahoma passed along to me by Jim Ross:

“As many of you know, I am somewhat passionate about bridges, and there are two significant spans in Oklahoma that need our attention.

First, the Pony Bridge on US281 west of El Reno. There has been some chatter lately about ODOT’s plan to possibly replace this bridge. I talked to Melvena Heisch at SHPO about it, and she told me it is too early in the process to take action, but it is definitely on her watch list and she will keep us informed. Additionally, this bridge is part of a NRHP property, so we have some leverage there. The controversial US281 Spur project a number of years ago was intended to relieve traffic on the Pony Bridge and has done so. I haven’t seen traffic counts, but each time I drive that way there is very light traffic on the bridge and virtually no truck traffic, so it seems unlikely that demolition is imminent.

Now the much more urgent matter. The Bird Creek Bridge (formerly known as the Verdigris River Bridge) at Catoosa near the Blue Whale now has its neck stretched across ODOT’s chopping block. Some of you may have received a letter from them explaining why all the alternatives they supposedly considered won’t work, leaving replacement as the only option. The bridge was built in 1936 and carries westbound traffic. At 24 feet wide, It is 4 feet narrower that its eastbound “twin.” Strangely, ODOT did not use traffic count as justification, though they are pushing the idea of safety. I talked to Melvena about it, and she is not convinced that the bridge cannot continue facilitating traffic. ODOT initially tried to get her to enter the mitigation phase right away, but she refused, and subsequently asked Federal Highway to enter the process as a consulting partner, which they have done. In addition, the National Park Service in Santa Fe has asked to become a consultant. What all this means is that the bridge ain’t dead yet and there is a fair chance we can save it. One crucial factor is that ODOT needs input from the public to help sway their decision-making.

If you can spare a few minutes to contact the individuals below, it could end up making the difference. Each time we do this, we are that much closer to ultimately changing ODOT’s (and other DOTs) thinking about how best to deal with these historic bridges. Thanks for listening, and thanks for your support!

John D. Hartley

Environmental Program Manager

FHWA – Oklahoma Division

5801 N. Broadway Extension, Suite 300

Oklahoma City, OK 73118

405-254-3341

john.hartley@fhwa.dot.gov

Robert Bartlett

Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Oklahoma Archaeological Survey

111 E. Chesapeake

Norman, OK 73019

405-325-7201

rbartlett@ou.edu

Dawn Sullivan

Planning and Research Engineer

Oklahoma Department of Transportation

200 N.E. 21st Street

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

405-521-2927

dsullivanfd9ns01@okladot.state.ok.us“

National Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program Update

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 cost-share grant cycle. Applications may be submitted to the program office until May 1, 2009. Awards will be announced on or before June 12, 2009. Cost-share grant applications are available online at www.nps.gov/history/rt66/grnts.

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program provides funding assistance in the form of cost-share grants, to support the preservation of the most significant and representative historic Route 66 buildings, structures, road segments, and cultural landscapes in the eight states through which the route passes. Assistance is also provided to support research, planning, oral history, and education outreach projects related to the preservation of Route 66.

Painted Desert Trading Post For Sale on eBay

For more details about the Holbrook, Arizona property, here is the eBay listing.