Grand Re-Opening Ceremony to take place on May 10th
BRIDGEPORT, OKLAHOMA (USA)- 38 spans and 3900 feet. The total length of the Pony Bridge spanning the South Canadian River. Originally scheduled to reopen in 2025, favorable weather conditions, combined with fast-tracking on the work, has led to the bridge to reopen much earlier than expected. As you can see in the most recent photo by Ken Turmel, the bridge has been reassembled with a new coat of paint, new decking and new railings. Now it’s just a question of marking the road and getting ready for the big celebration.
May 10th is the date you should mark on the calender. It’s that day that the grand re-opening will take place at the bridge. According to Route 66 News:
The gathering starts at 3:00 with music, food, and tours from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to show the public how this bridge was rebuilt, keeping the historic trusses to emulate the visual impact this bridge has had for the last 90+ years.
At 5:00, several speakers will talk about the project and the upcoming Route 66 Centennial in 2026. Afterwards, they will lead the first crossing over the new span as it is opened for all to use.
The Pony Bridge was built by the Kansas City Bridge Company in 1933-34, using the standardized truss design by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The truss design was Camelback with riveted connections. At 3944 feet, it’s the second longest bridge along Route 66, which was created in 1926 and ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, via St. Louis, Tulsa and Santa Fe. It was discontinued in its entirety by 1979 when it was supplanted by the Interstate Highway. The Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis is the longest bridge along the route. It has been a posterboy, used in media, including the Grapes of Wrath (filmed in 1939).
The bridge was disassembled with each truss span having been sandblasted and repainted. The roadway was widened and the trusses were reassembled afterwards. Judging by the photo of the restored bridge, there’s little difference to see except for the widened decking:
Cars traveling on the Pony Bridge before its restoration. Photo taken by Nathan Holth in 2016
The reopening of the bridge will coincide with the opening of the Chain of Rocks Park, which occurred last weekend, and work is ongoing to make points along Route 66, known by many as the Mother Road, fit by the time 2026 comes around. That year will mark not only the 250th anniversary of the United States; it will also mark the 100th anniversary of the US Highway system, of which Route 66 was one of the first highways that was designated, along with the Lincoln Highway (US Hwy. 30).
For many, the bridge’s return will be a godsend, as it will reserve Bridgeport after a shorter than expected absence. For many highway and bridge enthusiasts, the Pony Bridge will reopen to its old glory as it will continue to serve traffic for generations to come. It’s one of the key fixtures along the highway that one must see once in a lifetime.
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Event:
Reopening of Pony Bridge
May 10th 3:00- 5:00pm; Bridge to reopen to traffic after 5:00pm
Venue: Pony Bridge along Route 66 in Bridgeport, OK
This is a blog about my project of visiting every bridge over the Genesee River and what I learned about the history, structure, and natural surroundings of each bridge.
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