The Oklahoma Department of Transportation is moving forward with its plan to replace the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge on U.S. Highway 70 by selecting three teams to participate in the next phase of its first modified design-build-build procurement plan.
The Oklahoma Transportation Commission has awarded $2 million in contracts to Manhattan Road & Bridge Co., Walsh Construction Co., and a joint venture between Zachry Construction Corp. and Traylor Bros., Inc. Each team will develop conceptual proposals that include overall design, construction phases, cost estimates and innovation opportunities. A finalist will be selected in 2026 to complete the final design and build the new bridge, which will be located just south of the existing structure and meet updated safety and mobility standards.
In July 2024, the The Federal Highway Administration granted the Oklahoma DOT a $124 million grant from its Bridge investment program for the estimated $250 million project. The grant, the largest transportation award in Oklahoma history, was among 13 major bridge projects to receive federal support across the country.
Unlike traditional design-bid-build delivery, the modified progressive design-build approach involves multiple teams during pre-construction. Once the preferred team is selected, the project progresses to final design and construction.
“This (progressive design and build) method brings designers and builders together throughout the engineering process to promote greater innovation and accelerate project completion by incorporating the builder’s preferred practices into the design,” ODOT Design Director Justin Hernandez said in a statement.
The Roosevelt Memorial Bridge was originally built in 1942 and spans 4,943 feet across Lake Texoma, connecting Bryan and Marshall counties. It carries approximately 8,500 vehicles per day and serves as a vital east-west corridor in southeastern Oklahoma. The existing structure includes a 250-foot Warren truss and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. ODOT is currently coordinating with state and federal preservation offices to document its historic significance.
