PSA: Willis Bridge Update

Feb. 9, 2023

The new Willis Bridge opened up with one lane northbound, and southbound traffic was routed onto the old bridge. Soon after, both lanes opened up on the new bridge.

Feb. 16, 2023

From the Tulsa, Oklahoma, office of Jensen Construction Company:

The contract to build the new bridge was awarded to Jensen in 2018. Initial work began in 2018, but it was quite some time before Texomans saw the construction crews arrive. The supervisor at Jensen and I could not remember what year their field office was installed. He thought it was 2019, and I thought it was 2020. 

We are approximately six months away from the end of construction. Jensen will dismantle the old bridge with hard labor, cranes, and pneumatic breakers, not with explosives to implode the bridge. Parts, not all, of the old bridge will be left to settle on the lake bed for fish cover and habitat. 

There are no guard rails on the east side of the northbound entrance and exit for a couple of hundred yards each. The drop-offs are steep in those sections and invisible at night. Those sections are up to ODOT code standards. 

Please Adhere to the 45 MPH Speed Limit Through the Willis Bridge Construction Zone