Tulsa's Newest Bridge Over Arkansas River Set To Open Wednesday Night

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation says the new I-244 bridge over the Arkansas River near downtown Tulsa will open Wednesday night.

Once the new bridge opens, ODOT says all 244 traffic will shift onto it and the old bridge will be demolished and rebuilt.

State officials gave the new multi-modal bridge spanning the Arkansas River on westbound I-244 in Tulsa the green light in March 2011.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a contract with Manhattan Road and Bridge to replace the structurally deficient bridge with a double-decker bridge. The cost of the entire project is $78 million.

ODOT says the new structure will incorporate highway lanes on the top side, with two dedicated future rail lines and an area for bicycle and pedestrian traffic underneath.

The entire project is scheduled to be finished by next summer.