Contact:

Should you have any questions regarding this project, please email environment@odot.org, or call 405-325-3269 and leave a detailed message.

Purpose

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), in cooperation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is studying alternatives to improve US-70 from State Park Road to Johnson Creek Road, including the Roosevelt Bridge, in Bryan and Marshall Counties. The purpose of this project is to provide a safe crossing of US-70 over Lake Texoma that will accommodate existing and future traffic volumes. The existing bridge is at risk of becoming structurally deficient, and the existing two-lane roadway lacks shoulders and does not provide sufficient capacity to accommodate the anticipated future traffic demand.

Description

The proposed project will correct the existing at-risk bridge over Lake Texoma and improve US-70 to meet today’s design standards. The improvements are intended to address the structural condition of the bridge, provide a crash-worthy bridge railing, address the low clearance at the truss span, and provide adequate roadway and shoulder width to accommodate traffic demand.

What is Section 4f?

Section 4(f) refers to the original section within the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 which provided for consideration of park and recreation lands, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, and historic sites during transportation project development. The law, now codified in 49 U.S.C. §303 and 23 U.S.C. §138, applies only to the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) and is implemented by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration through the regulation 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 774.

Before approving a project that uses a Section 4(f) property, FHWA must determine that there is no feasible and prudent alternative that avoids the Section 4(f) properties and that the project includes all possible planning to minimize harm to the Section 4(f) properties; or, FHWA makes a finding that the project has a de minimis impact on the Section 4(f) property.

Because it is a significant historic site, the Roosevelt Bridge is considered a Section 4(f) property. Lands on the east side of Lake Texoma that are owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and are designated as wildlife management areas are also considered a Section 4(f) resource.

Removal and replacement of the Roosevelt Bridge would be considered a use of the resource. Therefore, ODOT must study alternatives that would preserve the historic integrity of the bridge. These alternatives are presented in detail on the Section 4(f) Alternatives page.

Use of the US Army Corps of Engineers lands would be minimal, and it is anticipated that this use would be considered de minimis. Additional coordination with the US Army Corps of Engineers and FHWA will be required to reach agreement on this finding.

For more on Section 4(f) including definitions of terms such as prudent and feasible and de minimis, refer to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) website: Section 4(f) Overview (dot.gov)

Replacement Alternatives

• Replacement Matrix
• Replacement Alignments                
  

Section 4f Alternatives

• Alternative 1
• Alternative 2A
• Alternative 2B
• Alternative 3A
• Alternative 3B
• Alternative 4
• Alternative 5
• Cost Comparision A
• Cost Comparision B
• Section 4f Alternatives
• Section 4f Summary
• Section 4f Matrix                                                                                               
  

Comments

ALL COMMENTS NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE END OF BUSINESS ON AUGUST 10, 2023

Submit Online:  Comment Form

NOTE: To submit this Comment Form by email please download the form. Use your Adobe Reader to fill in your information and leave your comment, then select the Submit by Email button. You can also fill in the downloaded form and send it as an email attachment if you are on a public computer, or email your comments to environment@odot.org. If you do not currently have an Adobe Reader, you can download a free copy at https://get.adobe.com/reader/

Email: environment@odot.org

Address:
ODOT Environmental Programs Division
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
200 N.E. 21st Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-3204

Downloads

• Postcard
• Public Meeting Handout
  
• Exhibit Boards
• Public Meeting Presentation
• Project Limits Map
  
• Timeline
• Frequently Asked Questions