The 4,900‑foot US‑70 Roosevelt Bridge opened in 1945 and has carried more than 11,000 vehicles daily across Lake Texoma. After an engineering assessment flagged it as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) approved a replacement plan in 2024. The new bridge will replace the aging Warren through‑truss central span, the only surviving example of its type in Oklahoma. ODOT officials say the project will keep the original bridge open for traffic while construction proceeds.
ODOT awarded a $408 million contract to a joint venture of Zachry Construction and Traylor Bros., funded by state money and a $124 million federal Bridge Investment Program grant—the largest federal transportation grant in the state. The design will feature a four‑lane span, full shoulders, upgraded lighting, and a pedestrian path, addressing safety and capacity concerns that have plagued the old structure.
Using a modified progressive design‑build approach for the first time in Oklahoma, the project allows designers and builders to work together from the outset, aiming to shave time and costs. Crews have already cleared trees and begun drilling barges into Lake Texoma’s 65‑foot‑deep bed to test ground conditions for the new piers. Construction will continue for roughly three years, with the new bridge slated for completion in fall 2029.
The US‑70 corridor is a vital artery for southern Oklahoma and northern Texas, supporting commuting, freight, tourism and economic activity. More than 11,000 vehicles use the route each day, and the new bridge will enhance reliability and safety for those motorists. ODOT said the project’s expanded shoulders and pedestrian path will also improve accessibility for local communities.
Construction will proceed while the old span remains in service, ensuring minimal disruption to daily traffic. The next milestone is the first full‑scale construction of the new piers, expected early next year, after final design approvals are secured.