Tulsa World
By GAVIN OFF World Data Editor
Published: 3/20/20112:22 AM
Last Modified: 3/20/20115:17 AM
Considering Oklahoma's reputation for bad bridges, the city of Tulsa's bridges are in immaculate condition.
Statewide, about one in five bridges - 20 percent - are deficient, according to a Tulsa World analysis of U.S. Department of Transportation data.
In contrast, only about 4 percent of the city of Tulsa's bridges are deficient, according to data from the National Bridge Inventory.
The national inventory lists the condition of every bridge in the country. Condition descriptions include nondeficient, functionally obsolete and structurally deficient.
Structurally deficient bridges are those needing significant maintenance, repairs or replacement. Many can support only limited loads, often as light as three tons. The average school bus weighs about 10 tons.
"I think we've made tremendous progress," said Chris Cox, transportation rehabilitation manager for the city of Tulsa. "My biggest concerns are those bridges that are structurally deficient and those that are load-posted because that restricts traffic flow."
Of the 270 bridges the city maintains, 11 are deficient, data show. Its busiest deficient bridge crosses Crow Creek at 3200 Riverside Drive. It carries about 28,000 vehicles a day... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Sun, March 20, 2011
by John Cox