The record-breaking rainfall that swept across Oklahoma this April has left a clear mark on the Red River, where the rising floodwaters have interrupted construction work on a major infrastructure project: the new Interstate 35 bridge connecting Oklahoma and Texas.

Floodwaters at the site have surged alarmingly close to the underside of the current I-35 bridge, raising concerns and causing visible damage to equipment and portions of the construction in the riverbed. Motorists crossing the existing bridge have been able to see the tops of heavy machinery left stranded, indicating that some equipment was not moved before the river rose.

The new I-35 bridge is a joint effort between the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Both agencies are working on creating new interstate approaches leading up to the Red River, which marks the state line. On either side of the river, massive earth-moving work has been underway, with large dirt embankments being built to shape the future alignment of the widened interstate.

Despite the local damage caused by flooding, the overall project remains a key priority for both states. Launched last fall, the $480 million project includes not only the new bridge but also the widening of I-35 through both Oklahoma and Texas to accommodate booming traffic demands. On the Oklahoma side alone, costs are projected at $37 million.

Tim Gatz, executive director of ODOT, underscored the importance of the project during a Transportation Commission meeting in September 2024, where he highlighted the staggering traffic figures and future projections.

“It is the number one fastest growing for population and job growth in the United States, so it’s got our attention, it has to have our attention,” said Gatz. He noted that currently, as many as 150,000 vehicles cross I-35 daily — a number expected to surge to 1.4 million vehicles per day over the next two decades.

Oklahoma’s collaboration with TxDOT has already led to some widening on the Texas side of the Red River, a necessary step to handle the construction traffic and lane shifts required during the bridge work.

“We’ve done some widening down there at the Red River already, in support of the construction traffic control we’re going to have to do during the bridge project,” Gatz said at the meeting. However, he also cautioned that expanding I-35 to six lanes across Oklahoma is a massive undertaking, with costs nearing $2.5 billion. To start chipping away at that price tag, ODOT is focusing first on widening the 10-mile stretch from the Red River into Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Transportation Commissioners are scheduled to meet Monday, and Gatz is expected to provide an update on the flood’s impact on the Red River project and any potential timeline adjustments.

The new I-35 bridge is not only a critical transportation upgrade but also an economic investment, supporting freight, tourism, and commuter traffic between two of the fastest-growing states in the nation. Once completed, the project is expected to ease congestion, improve safety, and position the region to handle decades of growth.

Originally reported by Ok Energy Today.