A replacement Roosevelt Bridge over Lake Texoma is planned with four lanes, full shoulders, lighting and a pedestrian path. The US-70 approaches also would be upgraded. Sherman is about 9 miles north of Howe.
A groundbreaking ceremony marked the project’s launch. The bridge links Bryan and Marshall counties and carries over 11,000 vehicles daily between southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and southern Arkansas. The work is projected to cost more than $408 million and is intended to replace the approximately 80-year-old structure while improving safety and reliability.
The Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program is providing $124 million, with additional state and federal funding.
The Oklahoma Transportation Department organized the event alongside the project’s design-build contractors and officials from federal, state, local and Tribal governments. Tim Gatz, the transportation secretary and ODOT executive director, served as emcee. Participants included Federal Highway Administration Administrator Sean McMaster, U.S. Sen. James Lankford, state legislators, community members, and representatives of Zachry Construction and Traylor Bros.
Those two companies are directing the design-build team, which was chosen through a competitive procurement process under a modified progressive design-build method. ODOT plans to work with local communities and regional partners during construction. No completion date was provided.
