Construction on what will become Oklahoma’s longest bridge is officially moving forward after the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) approved a major contract this week. During its Tuesday, Dec. 9 meeting, the OTA Board awarded $97 million for the first major project of the East-West Connector Turnpike, a central component of the agency’s massive $8.2 billion, 15-year ACCESS Oklahoma transportation initiative.
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The new bridge will connect Interstate 44 and Interstate 35, linking communities between Portland Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, and serving as a critical new mobility corridor for drivers traveling between Newcastle, Moore and Norman.
Crossland Construction secured the contract after submitting a bid that landed significantly under expectations. OTA engineering director Darian Butler noted the competitive pricing advantage, adding that the bid came in about 30% below the engineer’s estimate.
For OTA leaders, the bridge represents one of the most strategically important segments in the East-West Connector corridor. Executive Director Joe Echelle emphasized the need to connect transportation networks in this growing region, highlighting the project’s importance for long-term regional mobility.
Connecting the area just east of Newcastle to Moore and Norman, he said, was considered a “critical path project.” Echelle added that construction is expected to begin in early 2026 and wrap up by late 2027.
The bridge will span the Canadian River, and OTA officials stressed that environmental protection was a central focus during planning.
Echelle said the structure was purpose-built to reduce ecological disturbances. “The bridge piers will be constructed outside of the river channel, and OTA will monitor construction very closely to ensure the contractor complies with all environmental safeguards,” he noted.
The project’s design aims to protect the river’s water quality, as well as habitat areas for threatened wildlife species. OTA plans to conduct continuous environmental compliance checks throughout construction.
Once finished, the bridge will extend more than 1.25 miles, making it the longest bridge in Oklahoma. However, Echelle acknowledged that the title may not last forever, saying the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has “plans on the shelf” for a future project that would exceed it.
Along with approving the construction contract, the OTA Board also advanced property acquisition efforts by approving a Resolution of Necessity for condemnation on three parcels along the East-West Connector and Turner Turnpikes.
According to OTA Transportation Manager Todd Gore, negotiations have stalled on one parcel. “This does not mean you stop negotiating, but this is kind of at an impasse,” he said. “We’ve been trying to get a counteroffer, and we have not been able to receive that from them, and we’ve been working over the last month to try and get that.”
Two additional parcels along the Turner Turnpike corridor face title complications, prompting the board to authorize condemnation if needed. “We’re working with the landowner to try and get their documentation secure, but they’re unable to find that documentation to clear the title to get through the closing company, so that’s why we are requesting condemnation on that,” Gore said.
OTA noted that all three properties in question are currently vacant.
As part of its broader investment strategy, OTA reported that 81 total property acquisition agreements have been completed across ACCESS Oklahoma projects, which include the Will Rogers, East-West Connector, and State Highway 375/Indian Nation turnpikes.
Another 28 properties have been approved for resolutions of necessity, with 13 currently being prepared for condemnation filings in district court.
With the contract awarded and early work scheduled, the landmark bridge project is officially underway—setting in motion a major infrastructure expansion designed to reshape travel patterns across central Oklahoma for decades to come.
Originally reported by Jeff Elkins in The Oklahoman
