ODOT Begins Major Repairs To Highway 75 Bridge Over Southwest Boulevard

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is breaking apart the deck of the Highway 75 bridge over Southwest Boulevard.

The major repairs started Tuesday morning. ODOT said it’s demolishing the deck of the bridge.

3/19/2018 Related Story: Tulsa Bridge Replacement Closes Northbound Highway 75 At 41st Street Exit

The demolition does not require tearing down the bridge, but ODOT does plan to make substructure repairs to the bridge over the next few months.

Glenna Mize works at Billy Ray's Barbeque, which is just several yards from the bridge. Mize said even though the road work means backed up traffic, she believes it's time for a new bridge.

"It's an inconvenience to us all, but needful to keep us safe. We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt," she said.

The project is part of an eight-year construction plan put in place by ODOT. The bridge over Southwest Boulevard was built in 1972 and is now considered structurally deficient.

ODOT closed Highway 75 from the 41st Street exit to the Red Fork Split on Monday to start work on the project.

ODOT said the bridge will be open to drivers in early July.