Route 66 landmark reopens as state preps for centennial of highway

Steve Lackmeyer, The Oklahoman
Updated ·3 min read
The US-281/Route 66 Bridgeport Bridge crosses the South Canadian River in Caddo County. The 3,893-foot-long bridge is the longest pony truss span bridge in Oklahoma and is recognized nationally and internationally for its iconic place in Route 66 history. This photo by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation was taken shortly before the bridge was rebuilt.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

BRIDGEPORT — The longest bridge along the iconic Route 66 is open again, marking the start of a countdown to the road’s 2026 centennial celebrations expected to draw thousands of visitors from around the world to Oklahoma.

The $35 million reconstruction of the U.S. 281/Route 66 bridge over the South Canadian River in Caddo County started in 2022 and opened to traffic on Friday. The bridge, which spans 3,893 feet and was built with 38 bright yellow pony trusses, was built in 1934 and featured in the movie “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Tim Gatz, director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, promised the bridge is one of several Route 66 iconic corridors in the state that will be updated in the months leading up to the 2026 celebrations.

Oklahoma has the longest stretch of Route 66 original miles than any other state. Tulsa businessman and highway commissioner Cyrus Avery, who conceived the highway, was based in Tulsa when the corridor was planned and built.

“The department of transportation is leaning into this,” Gatz said. “Route 66 is us. It‘s where we came from. We want to continue to build on that with the activities we have planned into the centennial and beyond that.”

More: Route 66 kicks in millions in Oklahoma and elsewhere along its 2,400 miles

The continued interest in Route 66 was on display with the bridge’s opening, which drew dozens of classic car enthusiasts and fans of the road also known as the “Main Street of America.” Partner Tulsa estimates the highway brings $79 million dollars in net in-state wealth to the state’s economy.

Project manager Zac Holt said workers encountered travelers from around the world stopping at the bridge while it was closed for reconstruction.

“I should have gotten a passport for the project,” Holt said. “ I had people from all over the world who stopped — France, Spain, Germany, Italy, England — they were all here to see Route 66 and that bridge.”

U.S. 281/Route 66 bridge over the South Canadian River in Caddo County spans 3,893 feet and was built with 38 bright yellow pony trusses. The bridge, built in 1934, was featured in the movie “The Grapes of Wrath.”
U.S. 281/Route 66 bridge over the South Canadian River in Caddo County spans 3,893 feet and was built with 38 bright yellow pony trusses. The bridge, built in 1934, was featured in the movie “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Gatz said the bridge was outdated and in need of replacement when engineers came up with a way to rebuild it as a wider, modern structure while retaining the distinctive steel pony trusses. He said the bridge could not carry legally loaded trucks due to a nine-ton load limit.

“Anyone who drove the bridge before could tell you it felt like a pretty tight fit, especially if you saw a truck coming from the other way,” Gatz said. “We’ve added some much-needed width along with refurbishment of the old trusses. It’s a prime example of old meets new. We improved safety while at the same time preserving this important Route 66 history.”

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, a longtime advocate for Route 66, said the state has a lot to share with visitors choosing to drive the more than 400 drivable miles in Oklahoma.

Tulsa is a showcase of an array of Route 66 landmarks and tributes, while other attractions across the state include not just the Bridgeport bridge but also the Round Barn and POPs in Arcadia, the Coleman Theater in Miami, and larger-than-life personalities like Harley Russell, who runs an antique store in Erick where nothing is for sale.

“Oklahoma has more miles of the most famous road in the world than any other state in the country,” Pinnell said. “The greatest American road trip you can take today is right here in Oklahoma. We have to talk about it.”

Cars parade across the bridge after it officially opened on May 10 at the reopening of the William H. Murray Bridge referred to as the Pony Bridge in Bridgeport Bridge along part of the original Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Cars parade across the bridge after it officially opened on May 10 at the reopening of the William H. Murray Bridge referred to as the Pony Bridge in Bridgeport Bridge along part of the original Route 66 in Oklahoma.

The reconstruction of the Bridgeport bridge also features a parking area where travelers can stop and take pictures of the span — something that was not easily done previously.

Gatz said similar efforts and artistic treatments are being taken with other Route 66 projects including the reconstruction of the Turner Turnpike bridge over the highway in Wellston and a new junction at Interstate 44 in Catoosa.

Cars parade across the bridge on May 10 after it officially opened at the reopening of the William H. Murray Bridge.
Cars parade across the bridge on May 10 after it officially opened at the reopening of the William H. Murray Bridge.

“We have a string of projects planned across the state,” Gatz said. “With everyone of them we are putting extra effort in to show how important Route 66 is to Oklahoma.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: International travelers expected as famous Route 66 bridge reopens