The historic Lake Overholser Bridge that once carried Route 66 in western Oklahoma City reopened today after a $4 million repair project, reported News9.com in Oklahoma City.
The bridge dates to 1924, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The TV station had a few details about the repairs:
The nearly two year restoration included keeping the bridge’s original look. Officials said the weathering steel was used to keep the bridge historic. The steel will begin to rust quickly in humidity and forms a protective layer over the bridge.
“It makes the new steel match the old so quickly that it’s hard to tell where the new steel was installed,” Clowers said.
City officials said each bridge section to be replaced had to be removed, measured and exactly reproduced by the fabricator.
The bridge also was mentioned in John Steinbeck’s novel, “The Grapes of Wrath.”
UPDATE: The City of Oklahoma City sent this great photo from the bridge earlier today.
UPDATE 10/12/2011: Rick Martin attended the ceremony and has posted a bunch of photos on his Flickr account, including this one:
It was a nice ceremony. The repairs to the structural elements were minimal and while they can be seen they are well done and blend in nicely. The road deck was removed and rebuilt and new safety rails added on each end. This is really a great example of preserving a historic site for future generations.
There was a gentleman attending who had been there and watched the bridge being built.
Also had a good turn out of classic cars. Officials held up a ribbon and a model A drove through to open up the bridge.
Hats off to Oklahoma City for doing the restoration and the voters who approved the bond money to pay for it.