Bridge over Fort Gibson Dam deemed unsafe, closed indefinitely

KGOU By Graycen Wheeler

April 25, 2025

A bridge spanning the dam at Fort Gibson Lake in Eastern Oklahoma is closed indefinitely due to unsafe conditions.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started building the dam in 1942, impounding the Neosho River for flood control and hydroelectric generation. The bridge on top of the dam bears cars across the south side of Fort Gibson Lake on Highway 251.

At around half a mile long, the bridge is the largest one the Army Corps Tulsa District oversees.

The Army Corps has been closely monitoring the bridge for years after structural deterioration was identified. Since 2021, the Corps has placed a 15-ton weight limit on vehicles crossing the bridge and closed its southern lane.

Now, engineers have deemed the entire bridge unsafe to drive on. View the full article: KGOU.org