Fannin County, Texas -- Construction continues on the bridge that connects Fannin County, Texas to Bryan County, Oklahoma -- the Hwy. 78 bridge over Red River. Work on this project began in the summer of 2019 and Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) expects the project to be completed in early 2021.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) contributed half of the funding for construction. ODOT designed the new bridge, bid the project and provided oversight of the construction contractor. The more than $15 million contract for this project was awarded to L&N Bridge, LLC of Antlers, Oklahoma. ODOT will also be responsible for maintenance of the new bridge.
The historic bridge that currently connects Bryan County, Oklahoma and Fannin County, Texas is almost twice as old as the average bridge in the U.S. Built in 1938, the Hwy. 78 bridge is 2,100 feet long. The bridge over Red River bears a plaque with the names of Texas Highway Commission members in 1938, including wealthy Texas oilman Harry Hines, the namesake of Harry Hines Blvd. in Dallas.
The 82-year-old bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a significant fact due to its association with federal relief programs implemented during the Great Depression. Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) data indicates engineering of the bridge is also a rare example of its type.
The new bridge will be about 2,298 feet long with a roadway width of 44 feet, which is significantly wider than the old bridge.
The existing bridge will be demolished once the new bridge has been completed and opened to traffic.
Public access at this point is critical if Texas and/or Oklahoma ever develop an interstate paddle trail or other recreational opportunities along Red River. On the Oklahoma side of the bridge, there is a private business that continues to operate and maintain off-road trails around the area. The river access is primarily on Texas’ side of the bridge; ODOT says it will not be changed by the project.
