The 11th Street Bridge in Tulsa and the Rock Creek Bridge in Sapulpa were named to Preservation Oklahoma’s Most Endangered Places list in 2023.
The annual list by the nonprofit organization aims to promote jeopardized historic sites.
“Although inclusion on the list does not guarantee protection or funding, recognition for these structures may increase restoration efforts and possibly ensure their longevity,” Preservation Oklahoma stated. “A variety of property types were nominated from across the state. The 2023 list features a mix of commercial, religious, and educational sites ranging from pre-statehood to mid-century.”
Here’s what Preservation Oklahoma stated about the 11th Street Bridge:
Built in 1917, the old 11th Street Bridge (now the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge), was the first concrete and steel-reinforced bridge to cross the Arkansas River anywhere in the United States. It has 18 spans and is 1,470.6 feet long. The original balustrades were classical in design and it featured Victorian-era lighting. In 1929 the guardrails and lighting were replaced with Art Deco designs. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 and is considered to be in poor condition.
Cyrus Avery was appointed to the Joint Board on Interstate Highways in 1924. In 1925, that board received approval from the American Association of State Highway Officials for a proposed National Highway System. The first highway as part of this new system was a sweeping highway from Chicago to Santa Monica. Avery convinced the AASHO that the best route for this proposed highway would be through Tulsa via the old 11th Street Bridge.
The historic significance of this bridge makes it a major tourist attraction for the city and state. Rehabilitating the bridge will allow us to preserve history and make the bridge accessible for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, available for popup shops, events, etc. It is currently closed to all motor and pedestrian traffic.
And here’s what it said about the Rock Creek Bridge, aka Bridge No. 18 at Rock Creek, in Sapulpa:
Constructed in 1924 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, Bridge No. 18 at Rock Creek is an excellent example of a parker through truss bridge on Route 66 in the state. This type of bridge was used extensively along the route during the first part of the 20th Century. It also originally served the Ozark Trail, a network of locally maintained roads and highways.
Rock Creek bridge was bypassed by Route 66 in 1952. The bridge did remain in use until recently. While still structurally sound, it is closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The city of Sapulpa plans to turn the area east of the bridge into a park and use the bridge as a centerpiece, attracting domestic and international travelers.
Other sites that made the list:
- Quanah Parker’s Star House, Cache
- Isaiah 53 Church, Tulsa
- Larkin Hotel, Blackwell
- L’Ouverture School, McAlester
- Bryant Center, Oklahoma City
- St. Joesph’s Rectory, Krebs
- Jewel Theatre, Oklahoma City
- Skyride, Tulsa
- Peter Conser House, Heavener
- Capitol Hill High School, Oklahoma City
(Image of the 11th Street Bridge in Tulsa by Shane Burkhardt; image of the Rock Creek Bridge and a nearby railroad bridge by Ron Doke, both via Flickr)
My personal choice would have been not to close the Rock Creek Bridge and instead find a way to restore it along with the Cyrus Avery / 11th St. bridge for the upcoming centennial.
Since I had been fortunate to grow up driving over the old Rock Creek Bridge, it makes me a bit sad and disappointed that old structures like these end up being removed from actual use. I understand when the costs, at least from my point of view, MAY be used to provide the reasoning for a closure to vehicular traffic. However, it hurts to think there might have been an alternative if a vote on a bond issue or other fundraising was available. I am not well-versed in the spiderweb of my local or county laws and such, so I could be completely wrong on that being available in the first place.