Viaduct project continues; utilities continue to be relocated

The City of Guthrie updated the viaduct project that is currently in the phase of relocating utilities. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is hopeful to complete the phase by the end of summer.

Currently, ODOT is relocating utilities and clearing area for the first new section of the bridge, which will be built to the south adjacent to the existing bridge. Once this new portion of bridge has been constructed, traffic will be shifted to flow across this while the older, existing bridge is removed and reconstructed. This will prevent traffic from having to be rerouted through the downtown during the construction process.

Once work is complete, the roadway will be widened from 10th Street, will include a turn lane at 8th Street and will keep the four-lane section to 1st Street. The new bridge itself will begin at 7th Street and will end past 2nd Street, which will block traffic access from 2nd Street onto Highway 33.

Plans are also under discussion for a decorative kiosk with information, pictures, and history of the bridge to possibly be placed on 2nd Street in the new cul-de-sac area. Seven-foot wide brick-pattern sidewalks will be along both sides of the roadway and the bridge to accommodate foot traffic, and decorative lighting will also be installed from 12th Street to 1st Street.