Pony Bridge Project Delayed Several Months

BRIDGEPORT – The reconstruction of the historic “Pony Bridge,” the longstanding structure that connects Blaine and Caddo counties, has been delayed, officials told The Geary Star.

The Star had previously reported that construction was slated to start around March 2022, but now construction is expected to begin around May or June.

Rick Howland, construction and maintenance engineer for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s District 4, said the project has been delayed by a utility connection.

“We had an issue with the utility that’s basically hanging on the bridge. It hasn’t been moved yet,” Howland said. “The utility contractors should be moving that utility now, or should be shortly. So given there’s still a utility on there, we had to delay. … There actually won’t be any work, probably, started on that bridge until probably around May, would be my guess.”

The utility, which Howland said is some sort of phone line or fiber-optic cable from a leading communications provider, may have to be rerouted under the South Canadian River.

Howland said previously that construction, once begun, is expected to last about 19 months. Once it begins, Blaine County residents will have to travel down the Highway 281 spur to I-40, then drive west on I-40 and take Exit 101 to reach Hinton.

The 3,944-foot Pony Bridge, formally named the William H. Murray Bridge, is said to be the longest anywhere on historic Route 66. Its reconstruction aims to widen the bridge while maintaining the distinctive pony trusses after which the bridge is called.

The construction delay means Blaine County residents will be able to use the bridge for a few months longer than expected, but could push completion into late 2023 or 2024.