Tulsa World By Steve Metzer
March 26, 2024
Update
For many Oklahomans, including Department of Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz, Tuesday’s news of a bridge collapse in Baltimore brought back sickening memories of a similar tragedy in 2002.
On May 26 of that year, barges being towed along the Arkansas River drifted into a pier supporting a bridge on Interstate 40 in Oklahoma. A portion of the bridge plunged into the river, taking with it eight passenger vehicles, a horse trailer and three tractor-trailer rigs. Fourteen people died, and 11 more were hurt.
Gatz recalled the tragedy and spoke about the latest accident in Baltimore on Tuesday when he met with lawmakers on the Senate Aeronautics and Transportation Committee. He said that while concerns remain about the design, age and condition of some bridges in Oklahoma, bridges systemwide are in vastly better shape now than they were in 2002.
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