National Register Record for BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE
ID: MP100005858Historic Name: BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE
Current Name: "ROUTE 66 AND ASSOCIATED HISTORIC RESOURCES IN OKLAHOMA" MULTIPLE PROPOERTY LISTING (1995); "HISTORIC PROPERTIES ASSOCIATED WITH U.S. HIGHWAY 66, FROM CHICAGO TO SANTA MONICA, 1926 TO 1985" MULTIPLE PROPERTY DOCUMENTATION FORM (2011);
Address: N. U.S. HIGHWAY 281 OVER THE SOUTH CANADIAN RIVER
City: BRIDGEPORT VICINITY County: CADDO
Section: None Township: None Range: None
Description of significance: THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRIDGEPORT BRIDGE , CHALLENGED THE OKLAHOMA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION BECAUSE OF ITS DIFFICULT CROSSING AND TENSION BETWEEN THE BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS OVER ROUTING AND DESIGN. DURING AN ARDUOUS PERIOD OF NEGOTIATIONS, WITH ITS FUNDING AT ONE POINT NEARLY HALTED, THE HIGHWAY AGENCIES DEVISED A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE PLAN THAT COULD WITHSTAND THE RIVER’S VAGARIES WITH AN EYE TOWARD ECONOMIZATION. THE MOST APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY WAS SELECTED TO MEET THIS NEED — A SERIES OF 38 IDENTICAL STANDARD CAMELBACK PONY TRUSS SPANS, ERECTED OVER CONCRETE PIERS SITTING ON PNEUMATIC FOUNDATIONS. COMPLETED IN 1933 AT 3,944’, IT WAS OKLAHOMA’S LONGEST BRIDGE, THE LONGEST TOLL-FREE CROSSING ON U.S. HIGHWAY 66, AND THE LONGEST EXAMPLE OF ITS TYPE IN THE UNITED STATES. ITS RECOMMENDED PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE IS 1933 TO 1962. THE BRIDGE IS CURRENTLY A CONTRIBUTING RESOURCE TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES NOMINATION TITLED BRIDGEPORT HILL-HYDRO ROUTE 66 SEGMENT (NRIS #04000129) THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. LISTED 11/30/2020.
Type: STRUCTURE
Historic Function: TRANSPORTATION: ROAD-RELATED
Current Function: TRANSPORTATION: ROAD-RELATED
Area of Significance 1: TRANSPORTATION
Area of Significance 2: ENGINEERING
Architectural Style: CAMELBACK PONY TRUSS
Architect: DESIGNER: OKLAHOMA STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT; BUILDER: KANSAS CITY BRIDGE COMPANY
Year Built: 1933-1962 Original Site: YES
Condition: POOR
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: SEPTEMBER 2020
