Oklahoma City receives $2.2M to study 15 bridges

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Oklahoma City is receiving millions of dollars in planning grants to study aging bridges.

According to the city of OKC, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that the city is getting $2.2 million in grants through the Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Investment Program.

“The bridges in west Oklahoma City are heavily used by large-scale manufacturing in the area,” Public Works Director Debbie Miller said.

Officials say the grants will fund studies to fix or replace 15 heavily used bridges in Oklahoma City, with additional improvements like bike lanes or sidewalks.

The city says the grant will include nine span bridges along a 2.5-mile section of Lightning Creek between SW 29th St. and SW 59th St.

“Funding for the bridges over Lightning Creek will help us determine bridge design solutions to accommodate use and provides a unique opportunity to create designs that consider waterway trash and debris removal.” added Miller.

There are also six bridges along 5.5 miles that cross the North Canadian River and the Deep Fork River. Three of those bridges are on MacArthur Blvd., one is on W Reno Ave., one is on N Portland Ave. and the last is on NW 10th St.

To learn more about the U.S. Dept. of Transportation's Bridge Investment Program, visit transportation.gov.