Not one, not two, but six bridges on the Oklahoma Turnpike were impacted and damaged by an over-height truck in Rogers County.
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority said the bridges damaged ranged from 14 feet, 11 inches to 15 feet, 4 inches, all above the legal limit. Trucks taller than 14 feet must have a permit and approved routes to travel on state highways.
The bridges, four of which were initially closed, were located between state Highway 266 and state Highway 28.
“We are continuing to see damage to our state transportation infrastructure from illegal, over-height semitrucks,” Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Executive Director Joe Echelle said. “This is a critical issue that puts the traveling public at risk and is unacceptable. We are extremely grateful that no one was injured in this incident. We implore truck drivers to follow all Oklahoma laws and work with the state’s size and weights permitting office to ensure that all travelers are safe on our roadways and that our infrastructure remains undamaged by these careless acts.”
The latest update from the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority said that three bridges remain closed, and eastbound I-44/Will Rogers Turnpike will be narrowed to one lane under the bridges for repairs.
Work was expected to continue through the weekend and into the following week.
Repairs could last up to two weeks, depending on the weather.
OTA said it is working with officials from Rogers County, Mayes County, the city of Claremore, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in response to the incident.
Bridges Not Bumpers Act
Reps. George Latimer, D-N.Y., and Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-Pa., have introduced legislation aimed at preventing bridge strikes.
“Bridge strikes by large trucks are preventable and are a real problem in the New York metropolitan area,” Latimer said in a news release. “They strain local governments, who often bear the financial burden of fixing damaged bridges or redesigning infrastructure to prevent future strikes. They also burden local law enforcement, who must divert resources to remove trucks from under bridges and redirect traffic to alternative routes.”
The New York Governor’s office said there were 350 bridge strikes in the state in 2024 alone, while Pennsylvania officials estimated more than 600 bridge strikes between 2013 and 2023. LL
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