The Oklahoma Department Transportation Commission approved its 8-Year-Plan on Monday and the Guthrie viaduct is in the plans. The plan now shows the 77-year-old bridge will be pushed back a year from the original plan of 2014.
ODOT revealed a $6 billion plan to improve 1,999 highway and bridge projects across the state. Logan County will benefit with approximately 13 projects, but the most talked about project will continued to be simply talked about for at least two more years.
The bridge, which has undergone several patching projects in the past year, is now projected to go out for bids in late 2015 from the original plan of 2014.
The updated plan shows the utilities and right of way are set to begin in 2013 at a cost of $2,645,140 after an environmental assessment study is completed. The actual construction of the 1,700 foot bridge and approaches is set at just over $13 million for the nearly $16 million dollar project. The future four-lane viaduct will expand from Second Street to Seventh Street, but leveling out around 12th and 13th streets.
Guthrie News Page spoke with ODOT spokesperson Larry Clore who says once construction is underway it is expected to take a year to complete and will be funded 100 percent with federal funds.
So, why the delay?
Clore stated that ODOT continues to negotiate with the state Historic Preservation Society on preserving the historic bridge, but could not discuss what the negations detailed. It is believed the society is trying to help preserve the bridge’s look as it falls in the middle of the historic landmark district with the National Register of Historic Places.
The bridge sufficiently rating of the viaduct 
has a poor rating of 21.1 out of a 100 point scale. ODOT has made progress in the number of structurally deficient highway bridges down to 556 in 2012 compared to 1,168 in 2004. However, the Guthrie viaduct is one of the 556 structurally deficient highway bridges according to the Oklahoma Bridge Tracker.
In December 2012, then Division Engineer Paul Green said the viaduct has over 13,000 vehicles traveling across and is well over the normal travel for a two-lane road.
In the same 2012 meeting, Councilman Gaylord Z. Thomas asked the engineer, “are you comfortable it is going to last two years?” Green responded, “it has too.”
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