Repaired Muskogee Bridges Help Provide Safe Routes For School Buses

Muskogee drivers can now use two major bridges that have been in disrepair for decades. They were in such bad shape that school buses couldn't even safely use them. 

The bridges are off Smith Ferry Road and York Street and just opened this month after being closed for more than a year.

“We are so excited to have them opened up, how much easier it’s going to make running our bus routes," said Hilldale Public Schools Superintendent Eric Plunkett. 

Plunkett said the new bridges mean a safer commute for his schools' buses. He tells News on 6, before the construction, his bus drivers either had to reroute, or hope they could make it across.

“The fear was just safety. The bridges are obviously older and constructed with wood as a base and was constantly in fear of our bus is going across and what could happen as far as a catastrophe," Plunkett added. 

Muskogee County commissioners said before the repairs, these bridges couldn’t even handle an empty school bus, let alone one full of students. Commissioner Ken Doke said theses bridges are part of a statewide bridge improvement program.

“In the early 2000s Oklahoma had some of the worst roads in the nation and we were ranked 49th in the nation for worst bridges," Doke said. 

Doke said in response, the state legislature passed the County Improvement of Roads & Bridges (CIRB) in 2007. 

"Since then, there have been over 700 projects across the state, and over $1 billion in projects completed," said Doke. 

CIRB funds were received and used on the Muskogee County bridge project. Doke said the project cost about $1.2 million .

He said the country has more than 30 bridges it still needs to repair.

“We’ve replaced dozens and dozens of insufficient bridges, so we don’t have any of those left now, we are excited to constantly be checking those off,” Doke said. 

Hilldale leaders said they plan to change their bus routes soon so they can start using those bridges.