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William H. Murray Bridge

Canadian County, Oklahoma, and Caddo County, Oklahoma
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Photos 

Difficult to tell how long this is, from this view.

Photo taken by Gene McCluney in August 2006

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Map 

Street View 

View Uglybridges.com report

Facts 

Overview
38-span pony truss bridge over South Canadian River on US 281
Location
Canadian County, Oklahoma, and Caddo County, Oklahoma
Status
Open to traffic
Future prospects
Scheduled for replacement 2015
History
Built 1933
Builder
- Kansas City Bridge Co. of Kansas City, Missouri
Design
38-span Camelback Pratt pony truss highway bridge.
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 100.1 ft.
Total length: 3,944.3 ft. (0.7 mi.)
Deck width: 24.0 ft.
Recognition
Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
Also called
Pony Bridge
Route 66 Canadian River Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+35.54344, -98.31785   (decimal degrees)
35°32'36" N, 98°19'04" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
14/561833/3933525 (zone/easting/northing)
Elevation
1380 ft. above sea level
USGS topographic map
Geary South
Inventory numbers
OKNBI 040850000000000 (Oklahoma bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory)
BH 28764 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 11/2011)
Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 34.9 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2010)
1,100

Categories 

Built 1933 (468)
Built during 1930s (8,552)
Caddo County, Oklahoma (25)
Canadian County, Oklahoma (17)
Have street view (9,883)
Kansas City Bridge Co. (106)
Multiple span pony truss (11)
NR-eligible (3,749)
Oklahoma (1,642)
Open (28,300)
Owned by state (9,805)
 Pony truss (13,215)
Pratt pony truss (2,341)
Pratt truss (5,654)
South Canadian River (5)
Span length 100-125 feet (3,299)
Structurally deficient (16,677)
Total length over 2500 feet (587)
Truss (23,562)
US 281 (8)
US 66 (182)

Update Log 

  • August 13, 2012: Updated by J Lance: Added category "Multiple span pony truss"
  • November 16, 2011: New photos from Steve Conro
  • October 4, 2011: Updated by Craig Philpott: refined location
  • December 5, 2008: New photo from Gene McCluney
  • November 6, 2008: Updated by Rick Mattioni: Bridge design updated.
  • October 28, 2008: Updated by Rick Mattioni: Bridge name, builder, and description updated.
  • October 6, 2008: Updated by David Backlin: Added category (US 66)

Sources 

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Comments 

William H. Murray Bridge
Posted June 3, 2010, by Todd (mrwalk08 [at] aol [dot] com)

Bridgefans and route 66 buffs alike must relish this iconic span in the next five years. If 2015 has alotted funds, the preverbable UCEB will replace this beauty.

William H. Murray Bridge
Posted June 3, 2010, by Jeff W (dodgboyz [at] aol [dot] com)

We crossed this bridge last week on motorcycles. Was one of our planned detours as we crossed I-40-US66. Found location listed in one of Oklahoma's Route 66 flyers. We love crossing all the old metal truss bridges on bikes. My only complaint would be that this bridge is NOT marked as a landmark, nor any signage leading you to It. Was directed off 44 at exit 108 to a blind left turn onto a stretch of old 66 in the book. Easy to find from Exit 101, 281 north spur, automatically will cross bridge. I would like to see some Historic markers for This Bridge and the old stretch of US 66 that still exist near Geary Oklahoma. Loved crossing this bridge as long as 13 football fields stacked end to end!