ODOT work on US 75 bridge project underway

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation recently started work on the Turkey Creek Bridge rehabilitation project, causing lane closures on U.S. Highway 75 between Adams Road and Eastland Shopping Center.

According to City of Bartlesville Director of Engineering Micah Siemers, ODOT, a state agency, has 180 days to complete the project, but incentives are in place to finish sooner.

“Both ODOT and the contractor, Paradigm Construction, agree that the project should not take the full duration allocated if work continues as planned and weather allows,” Siemers said.

The project, which consists of replacing the deck of the existing bridge and rehabilitation of the bridge structure, has north and southbound lanes near the shopping center closed, with just one lane open each direction.

“Traffic on Highway 75 will be reduced to one lane in each direction throughout the duration of the project,” Siemers said. “The specific lanes that are open will shift and vary as the project progresses.”

Access into Eastland Shopping Center and the adjacent K-Mart and Mazzios area is closed to Highway 75 traffic.

“The alternate entrances off Frank Phillips will be the point of access into these locations,” Siemers said.

Additionally, the Pathfinder trailhead at Eastland Shopping Center is closed, along with the portion of trail under Highway 75.

“Barricades are in place and this area of Pathfinder is closed for the duration of the project,” Siemers said. “Due to safety concerns, Pathfinder users should use alternate routes until the bridge work is complete.”