Travel Route 66 by Jim Hinckley

Author:Jim Hinckley
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: MBI
Published: 2014-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

CANADIAN RIVER BRIDGE

During the dark days of the Great Depression, highway construction and road improvements funded through federal and state money were key components in stabilizing unemployment. In Oklahoma, a major realignment of Route 66 created a direct course between El Reno and Hydro and eliminated the loop through Calumet, Geary, and Bridgeport. The project commenced in 1930.

The centerpiece of the project was to span the South Canadian River with a bridge nearly one mile long that utilized a series of thirty-eight pony truss spans. When completed, the new bridge was an engineering marvel and an artistic addition to the river valley and roadway.

Construction of the bridge, awarded by contract to the Kansas City Bridge Company, began in October 1932 and was completed in July 1933, months ahead of schedule. Still, the bridge and bypass did not open until the summer of 1934.

Paving on the east leg of the bypass to the bridge had been completed in July 1933. Paving of the west segment, to a point three miles from the bridge, had been completed in 1931. But paving of the final three miles was delayed countless times because of funding issues, red tape, and weather.

Finally, on July 17, 1934, with an estimated 15,000 attendees, the cutoff and bridge officially became part of Route 66. Today, the historic Canadian River Bridge is counted among the most popular photo locations on this highway in Oklahoma.

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