ODOT DIRECTOR ADDRESSES STABILITY OF OKLAHOMA BRIDGES FOLLOWING MARYLAND BRIDGE COLLAPSE

The Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore raises questions about the stability of the bridges in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation addressed the concerns during its commission meeting on Monday. 

News on 6

By: Deanne Stein

April 1st 2024

The Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore raises questions about the stability of the bridges in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation addressed the concerns during its commission meeting on Monday. 

ODOT Director Tim Gatz says Oklahoma has a history of bad bridges but over the past 20 years, that has changed. He said the barge colliding with a bridge in Sallisaw over the weekend is proof of that.

“Structurally that bridge performed as expected,” said Gatz.

The barge slammed into the US-59 bridge at the Kerr Reservoir on Saturday. The barge and tug separated, but the bridge is still standing. Gatz says that bridge was designed to withstand the impact.

“The repair was superficial, so the damage was superficial,” Gatz said.

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