Highway Bridge Removed After 71 Years

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) A steel truss bridge that carried traffic into Stillwater for 71 years has been removed to be replaced with a new structure.<br/><br/>Payne County Commissioner Bill Deering says

Thursday, March 22nd 2007, 11:52 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) A steel truss bridge that carried traffic into Stillwater for 71 years has been removed to be replaced with a new structure.

Payne County Commissioner Bill Deering says the bridge may ultimately be used on a county road.

Two cranes lifted the 196,000-pound bridge off its concrete supports last week.

While it is being replaced, traffic into and out of town on State Highway 51 is being carried by another bridge that previously handled only westbound traffic.

Deering said the county was offered the bridge for the price of the crane services, which ended up totaling $8,800.

The cost of using it on a county road would be less than the cost of building a new bridge.

Terry Shreve, an engineering manager for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, says he always considered it the icon bridge of Stillwater and hopes it can find a new home.