Muskogee County 1-lane bridge to be replaced

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) A Muskogee County commissioner says a one-lane bridge that has spanned the Grand River since 1926 will be replaced soon.<br/> <br/>County Commissioner Gene Wallace says the state

Sunday, February 4th 2007, 8:03 pm

By: News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) A Muskogee County commissioner says a one-lane bridge that has spanned the Grand River since 1926 will be replaced soon.

County Commissioner Gene Wallace says the state Legislature established a program last year to help counties pay for the replacement of bridges if the counties could not afford the project.

The bridge on Donkey Lane near Fort Gibson is 766 feet and is thought to be the longest rural bridge in Oklahoma. It ranked number one on that program's list to be replaced.

Wallace says the state will give Muskogee County $480,000 from the new fund, which will add to the amount the county has saved for the project.

Wallace says work could begin on the project in three years, when enough money has been saved.

The iron bridge has a weight limit of seven tons, but several school buses weighing an average of 15 tons each cross the span each school day.