98-year-old bridge removed

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December 3, 2009

Aging structure to find new home

By Keith Purtell

BOYNTON — A 98-year-old bridge was carefully removed Thursday from across Cloud Creek in preparation for transfer to a new location.

The 80-foot long county bridge was listed as part of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Bridge program.

Rocky Webb, co-owner of Silver Spur Construction in Haskell, said the bridge had to be handled with care.

“First of all, the bridge has to come out and be put up here on the ground, then we’re going to have to go in and brace the bridge real good underneath,” Webb said.

Webb said extensive work has to be done in bracing the bridge for transportation via truck.

“Then we’re going to take it to our yard and store it,” he said. “And then, when things dry up, we have two locations where we might take it to. One is at Porum and one is at Haskell. In both places, the county road does not go through so it does not allow us access to the back side of our property. We have to go around through other people’s property.”

Webb said the bridge will go across a creek that is smaller that Cloud Creek.

“It will benefit us and other people,” he said. “This is a light bridge; it’s not designed for heavy loads. But if everything goes as planned, we can put it up as good as it is now or even better, probably some time in April.”

A media release from ODOT described the bridge as having a “curve-top Warren pony truss” design. It was originally built by the Vincennes Bridge Co. A new bridge is scheduled to replace the old one in fall.

Dexter Payne, Muskogee County Commissioner for District 3, said the bridge was built in 1911.

“I think there are 11 or 12 of those in the state,” he said. “I have two of them in my district, including this one. It will be given away, and the cost to remove it out of here and load it on the truck will be included in the cost of the new installation. After this, it becomes the responsibility of the person moving it.”

Reach Keith Purtell at 918-684-2925 or Click Here to Send Email