| Updated: 10/19/2012 3:26 pm |
Published: 10/18/2012 3:57 pm
|
Engineers from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation have selected and designed an expedited repair plan for the eastbound I-244 bridge over 3rd St./Charles Page Boulevard.
This bridge was heavily damaged after being hit by a vehicle on Monday, Oct. 15. The driver told police the truck's roll bars would not come down and had been malfunctioning. Police say the driver suffered a broken nose and possible rib injuries.
Engineers have determined a large section of beam and bridge deck need to be replaced, and the eastbound I-244 lanes (on the west leg of the Inner Dispersal Loop) will remain closed through Nov. 21 while repairs are made.
Also, all lanes of east and westbound 3rd St./Charles Page Blvd. will close underneath the bridge at 9 a.m. Friday as part of this work, and will remain closed until all repairs are complete.
This expedited repair schedule is in hopes of having the interstate open by Thanksgiving, and a $20,000 per day incentive is in place to help restore traffic ahead of schedule.
A project of this magnitude would normally take months, however ODOT engineers moved quickly to have this project complete in weeks. Estimated costs for the repair contract with Manhattan Road & Bridge are $450,000. ODOT expects to recover all costs incurred from the party responsible for the damage.
Drivers are encouraged to avoid this corridor if possible during this repair project or expect significant delays.
