Bridge Projects Put To Reality Check

By Jennifer Loren, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Another project on the plan, $16 million to repair or replace one of the worst bridges in the state.  The I-244 bridges over the Arkansas River, both east and west bound, have been deemed structurally deficient and are rated worse than the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis last year.

The money to fix them won't come until 2016.

Even when ODOT gets that $16 million in 2016, it's just enough funding to do the preliminary survey work.

With the $16 million worth of work they will be able to determine if the bridges are sound enough to just be rehabbed or if they need to be completely replaced.

If the bridges just need to be rehabbed ODOT thinks they'll need an additional 40 to 50 million dollars.

If they need to be replaced they think they'll need $100 million.

ODOT says they've performed ongoing maintenance on both bridges in order to keep them safe.

They say they'll continue with maintenance until 2016 when the money to begin the project is available.

In the meantime they say the structural deficiency ratings do not mean the bridges are unsafe.

If they were unsafe ODOT says they would close the bridges immediately and funding to fix them could be moved forward.