The replacement of the historic Roosevelt Bridge that spans Oklahoma’s Lake Texoma was formally launched with a recent groundbreaking ceremony at the large lake that also reaches into Texas.
Oklahoma Transportation Department leaders along with its design-build team and federal and local officials were on hand to mark the beginning of the US-70 replacement project. The more than $408 million project will replace the 80-year-old bridge connecting Bryan and Marshall counties over Lake Texoma to improve the safety and reliability of this important corridor. US-70 is an important regional connector between southern Oklahoma, northern Texas and southern Arkansas, carrying more than 11,000 vehicles each day. These improvements will support the continued growth of this area, including travel, tourism and economic activity along the multi-state corridor.
Oklahoma Secretary of Transportation and ODOT Executive Director Tim Gatz emceed the historic groundbreaking event and was joined by Sean McMaster, administrator of the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Sen. James Lankford and Zachry Construction/Traylor Bros., the design-build team. Sharing in the celebration were state legislators, county, local and Tribal officials and community members.
“Today, we celebrate long-awaited promises delivered for a stronger, more connected future for this region, its communities and the many residents and visitors who rely on this bridge,” Gatz said. “This monumental project represents what we can accomplish when we come together with a shared commitment to building a stronger state and a stronger future for those who come after us. Additionally, a project of this scope and magnitude would never be possible without the generous financial contributions of a significant federal grant and the unwavering support of Governor Stitt, our legislature and many state partners. Thank you for your commitment to strengthen Oklahoma’s economy and provide safer, more reliable transportation along this critical multi-region corridor.”
The bridge project is being funded through a combination of federal and state investment, including a $124 million Large Bridge Project award through the Federal Highway Administration’s Bridge Investment Program.
“The replacement of the US-70 Roosevelt Bridge is exactly the type of project the Federal Highway Administration is excited to support: modernizing critical infrastructure, enhancing public safety and maintaining vital economic lifelines for local communities,” said McMaster. “By leveraging targeted federal funding like the Bridge Investment Program alongside strong state partnerships, this project replaces an 80-year-old structure with a modern design built for generations, ensuring long-term reliability and growth for Oklahoma.”
“After years of working with the Department of Transportation to obtain federal funding, I’m grateful to have secured the largest transportation grant in Oklahoma history for this project,” said Lankford. “This is a historic investment in Southern Oklahoma that will ensure safer, more reliable travel for school buses, truck drivers, families and tourists that cross Lake Texoma every day.”
The US-70 Roosevelt Bridge replacement project will include:
● Construction of a new four lane bridge across Lake Texoma
● Improvements to roadway approaches along US-70
● Enhanced safety features, such as full shoulders, lighting and pedestrian path
● Coordination with local communities and regional partners throughout construction
Zachry Construction and Traylor Bros. are leading the design-build team, which brings extensive experience delivering large-scale bridge and infrastructure projects across the country. The team was determined through a competitive procurement process using a unique “modified progressive design-build” project delivery method, which allows ODOT to contract with multiple design-build teams to collaborate closely with ODOT personnel during design and construction planning. This approach incentivizes design-build teams to streamline delivery and optimize the design, budget and construction timeline. It is the first time this approach has been used in Oklahoma by ODOT.
Initial work at the project site is already underway. Crews have been preparing the construction site and improving driver visibility by clearing trees near the bridge and along US-70, while barges have been conducting drilling into the lake bottom to test ground conditions where the new bridge piers will be anchored. Lake Texoma reaches depths of approximately 65 feet near the bridge, making the foundation work one of the project’s major engineering challenges. ODOT has been and will continue working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to address environmental considerations associated with the project.
The current bridge will remain open during construction. The new bridge is anticipated to be completed in fall 2029.
