Tulsa World
By GAVIN OFF World Data Editor
Published: 8/2/20112:23 AM
Last Modified: 8/2/20115:22 AM
Demolition on the westbound Interstate 244 bridge over the Arkansas River is nearly complete as crews have already begun laying the foundation for the new span.
Workers with Manhattan Road & Bridge, the project's contractors, have removed 85 percent of the old bridge, said Kenna Mitchell, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Manhattan crews will finish the demolition in about two months, she said.
Randle White, ODOT's division engineer for the Tulsa area, said crews have been using a crane to lay portions of the old bridge into the Arkansas River. Then they're using a recently built access road from the river's south bank to retrieve and remove the material, Mitchell said.
White said Manhattan chose the gentler demolition plan because the state's contract requires it to monitor vibrations caused by the demolition. Strong vibrations could damage the nearby historic Route 66 bridge, White said... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Tue, August 2, 2011
by John Cox