The landmark Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, is hosting a reopening celebration from 3 to 5 p.m. on May 10, with vehicular traffic being allowed to cross shortly after 5.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association had the details about the party:
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, officially the William H. Murray Bridge, was closed to traffic in October 2022 for a $35 million rehabilitation that included widening the span but preserving and reattaching those distinctive trusses.
State officials initially expected a closure of at least two years, but the project was finished ahead of schedule.
The Pony Bridge remains one of Route 66’s most iconic spans. Built in 1934, it stretches more than 3,900 feet over the South Canadian River and consists of 38 yellow “pony” trusses, hence its nickname.
The bridge also appears in the 1939 Oscar-winning film “The Grapes of Wrath.”
(Image of the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, via 66Postcards.com)
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