Garver, officials to mark opening of U.S. Highway 77/Oklahoma 39 Purcell-Lexington Bridge

Garver representatives are set to join the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the cities of Lexington and Purcell, and the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce this week to celebrate the opening of the latest infrastructure improvements designed for the state’s travelers.

The new U.S. Highway 77/Oklahoma 39 Purcell-Lexington Bridge connects the two Oklahoma cities with a modern crossing over the Canadian River and the BNSF railroad. Garver provided final design for the nearly 4,000-foot bridge, which is located just south of Norman. The new bridge replaces the James C. Nance Bridge, which opened in 1938 and recently required frequent repairs.

A ribbon-cutting event marking the opening of the new bridge, which features four traffic lanes and pedestrian and bicycle paths, will be held Friday, July 26.  

“ODOT wanted to provide a final design with modern amenities, while also recognizing the historical significance of the previous bridge,” said Garver Transportation Project Manager Matthew Youngblood. “The previous bridge served these communities for more than eight decades, so we were proud to work with ODOT and the two cities for an updated bridge that will benefit the area for just as long.”

Along with final design, Garver provided survey, inspections, public and stakeholder coordination, traffic, and bridge and roadway design services. Garver also conducted an environmental assessment concurrent with design to help expedite the needed improvements brought on by the discovery of cracks in the beams of the previous bridge. The final project incorporated historical design elements from the previous bridge, including the reuse of original railings.

The Garver-developed plan included the replacement bridge to be constructed on a partial offset alignment with construction performed half at a time. This approach allowed two lanes to remain open throughout the two-year construction schedule, minimizing the impacts to the surrounding communities.

To learn more about Garver’s Transportation Team, visit our Transportation services page.