Rating:
3 votes

William H. Murray Bridge

Canadian County, Oklahoma, and Caddo County, Oklahoma

Photos 

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

Photo taken by Gene McCluney in August 2006

Enlarge

BH Photo #129361

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)
Quadrangle map:
Geary South
Elevation
1380 ft. above sea level
Inventory numbers
OKNBI 040850000000000 (Oklahoma bridge number on the National Bridge Inventory)
BH 28764 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 10/2015)
Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 36.0 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2014)
1,100

Categories 

Built 1933 (588)
Built during 1930s (10,507)
Caddo County, Oklahoma (27)
Canadian County, Oklahoma (21)
Canadian River (42)
Fence guardrail (139)
Have street view (21,873)
Historic Route 66 (7)
Kansas City Bridge Co. (125)
Multiple span pony truss (21)
NR-eligible (3,966)
Oklahoma (1,898)
 Open (36,385)
Owned by state (13,566)
Pony truss (15,022)
Pratt pony truss (3,160)
Pratt truss (7,965)
South Canadian River (7)
Span length 100-125 feet (4,006)
Structurally deficient (18,356)
Total length over 2500 feet (790)
Truss (29,370)
US 281 (12)
US 66 (233)

Update Log 

  • July 11, 2016: Photo imported by Jim Grey
  • February 26, 2014: New photo from Jack Schmidt
  • 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 July 11, 2017, by Calvin Sneed (us43137415 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

Nathan, please add my voice to yours. Definitely an American treasure worth of restoration and preservation.

William H. Murray Bridge
Posted November 3, 2016, by Nathan Holth (nels [at] bachsteel [dot] com)

There is no interpretive signage at this bridge presently. As a Consulting Party for Section 106 on this project, I have requested additional consideration of rehab for vehicular use, and a number of other consulting parties have expressed the same. Preservation for pedestrian use is being considered as well, but in light of Route 66 being a driving experience (and driving this long pony truss bridge offering a unique experience as well), we feel that if at all possible, vehicular use deserves priority, moreoso than with other bridge types.

William H. Murray Bridge
Posted November 2, 2016, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

Also, I second Jeff's comment. I saw no signage explaining the importance of this bridge, or pointing Route 66 buffs to it. Maybe I missed them.

William H. Murray Bridge
Posted November 2, 2016, by Robert Elder (robertelder1 [at] gmail [dot] com)

Drove over this one today. Very impressive and worth a visit. See it while you can, just in case it does get replaced.

William H. Murray Bridge
Posted June 13, 2016, by Nathan Holth (webmaster [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

Field visited this bridge June 2016. Photos and GoPro Video to eventually/someday end up on HistoricBridges.org. Meanwhile I uploaded the uncut/raw GoPro video to YouTube because this is a very cool bridge that photos do not do justice for... I felt the video helps better convey the length of the bridge. This bridge is AT RISK FOR DEMOLITION! OKDOT even admits its the most historic bridge in the state. Video: https://youtu.be/SHMSSYramGA

Below is a photo I took showing the bridge is so long that the optical distortion caused by the hot Oklahoma sun actually makes the far end of the bridge nearly disappear.

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!