Turkey Creek Bridge in Western Oklahoma Damaged; Repaired
The repaired Turkey Creek Bridge in western Oklahoma.
A historic concrete bridge outside of Canute, Oklahoma was damaged last month in a single-car collision - but it didn’t stay damaged for long, thanks to quick action by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Historic Route 66 crosses Turkey Creek east of Canute, near I-40 mile marker 48.5. If you’ve ever driven that section of the Mother Road, you are probably familiar with a number of similar bridges in the area that feature concrete railings. This particular bridge was built in 1929 and is surrounded by original Portland cement pavement; it’s authentic, original Route 66.
On October 17th, there was an early-morning accident. A single vehicle crossed the center line, struck the railing, spun, and hit it again in a different section before coming to a stop about 100 feet from the bridge. The driver was injured and the bridge was heavily damaged. Considering the age of the bridge and the fact that multiple railing sections were destroyed, there was uncertainty in the preservation community regarding the future of this historic crossing.
Before the end of the month, ODOT Field District 5 sprung into action. This district covers eleven counties, including most of southwestern Oklahoma. “Our bridge crew is one of our smallest crews and one of the most physically demanding,” said Jeremy Conway, Maintenance Engineer for the District. “They not only complete bridge repairs but also perform most of the concrete work that we do not contract out.”
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.”
For their quick work and attention to historic detail to keep Route 66 safe and authentic, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association gives our thanks to ODOT District 5, including: Toby Dixon, Superintendent; Tyler Johnson, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) III; Anthony Soto, HEO I; and Alex Fraser, HEO II. In addition to the bridge crew, two members of the district-wide traffic crew (Colby Brinkley, HEO III and Dylan Cuccias, HEO I) joined the crew for this project.
