ODOT Taking Proposals For Bridge Give-Away

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

BOYNTON, OK - It could be the bargain of all bargains.  The State of Oklahoma has a bridge it wants to give away.  Really.  It's historic and it is free.

The bridge is in Boynton in Muskogee County.

07/15/2009 Related Story: State To Give Away A Muskogee County Bridge

"We have a process where we solicit proposals, and we evaluate all the proposals we get in to find the most appropriate use for the bridge," said ODOT's Director of Cultural Resources Program Robert Bartlett.  Some of the more typical places are city parks, pedestrian trails."

The bridge was built in 1911.  It's a polygonal or curved top, Warren Pony truss design.  It's eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.

"As of 2007, we knew of 10 of these type in the state," said Robert Bartlett.

All are 80 years old or older.  Muskogee County Commissioner Dexter Payne says in its hundred years this bridge has serviced mostly agriculture.

"A lot of hay hauling going through here.  Hay production and cotton used to be," said County Commissioner Dexter Payne.

The bridge has suffered some wear and tear over the years.

Now the state will give you the bridge, but then you have to move it.

Stimulus money will be used to replace the bridge with a more efficient, modern two lane bridge.

If you think you have a good use for the historic bridge, you can contact the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.