Tuesday, July 11, 2023

1933,2024 US-281 (Originally US-66) Pony Bridges over South Canadian River near Bridgeport, OK

If you are here because of "EVWR/L&N and Aban/Big Four Bridge over Little Wabash River at Carmi, IL," then you need to go there.

1933: (Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges) Names: Pony, Bridgeport and William H. Murray
2024: (Satellite


On the same day I learned about this bridge, I learned about another long bridge over dirt.

This 3,944' (1202m, 3/4 mile) long bridge has 38 100' (30.5m) pony truss spans. It is probably the longest pony truss bridge in the USA. [HistoricBridges] 
It was also the longest bridge on Route 66. [kfor]


Street View, Apr 2022

In 2024, the bridge was replaced by a wider bridge, but the truss webs were retained as decoration.
Oklahoma Department of Transportation via HistoricBridges

Jan 2008 photo by Joe Sonderman via BridgeHunter

Photo of the new bridge by Russell Teague via HistoricBridges, cropped
 
stvinc
2026 is the centennial anniversary of Route 66 and Oklahoma maintains 400 miles of that route.

Old Bridge: 
Alan Davenport posted
Old US 66 Canadian River Bridge
Mother Bridge of the Mother Road
Dennis DeBruler Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9YAjZ1eDqLVf1gau8

New Bridge:
Mike Roquemore commented on Alan's post

John Albert Christeson Jr. posted
South Canadian River Bridge....(38 Pony Truss) US 281....(historic US 66) Bridgeport OK
Patrick O'Donnell: The 38 pair of pony trusses no longer serve any structural (load bearing) purpose, they're now purely decorative.

Mike Roquemore commented on Patrick's comment
yup just a modern boring bridge underneath. At least they kept the truss elements for looks!

Route 66 Information Station posted
The historic Pony Bridge (officially the William H. Murray Bridge) is located west of Geary and El Reno, Oklahoma, on Route 66.  It is 3,944 feet long, with 38 distinctive steel pony trusses, and crosses the South Canadian River in Bridgeport.  The bridge is the longest bridge of its kind in the US.  It was featured in the 1940 film "The Grapes of Wrath."


This photo has been moved to here.

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