Oklahoma Breaks Ground on $409 Million Roosevelt Bridge Replacement at Lake Texoma

The Roosevelt Bridge has been a fixture over Lake Texoma since 1942, and for most of that time it has done its job while quietly becoming one of the region’s worst bottlenecks. About 12,000 vehicles a day cross it on U.S. 70 between Durant and Kingston, but the span narrows from four lanes to two with no shoulders, creating daily congestion and real safety concerns for commuters, truckers, and school buses.

On September 10, state and federal officials broke ground on a $409 million replacement. The project received a $123.85 million federal Bridge Investment Program grant, the largest federal transportation grant in Oklahoma history, covering roughly 30% of the total cost with the state picking up the rest. U.S. Sen. James Lankford, Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster, and Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz were on hand for the ceremony.

For travelers in southern Oklahoma, the key detail is the timeline. The existing bridge will stay open throughout construction, and the new span is expected to open in fall 2029. That means roughly three more years of work zone driving over the lake, but also a wider, safer crossing for the next generation. What’s the biggest road project you’d like to see tackled around Lawton and Comanche County?