Pedestrian bridge proposed for Oklahoma River (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=376-Pedestrian-bike-and-pedestrian-bridge-proposed-for-Oklahoma-River)

A local architecture firm has drawn up plans to convert an abandoned rail bridge into a way to cross the Oklahoma River on bike or foot.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge7.jpg


ADG of Oklahoma City has submitted a presentation to the OKC Riverfront Redevelopment Authority which will be reviewed at their March 28th meeting.

The plan would provide a link between the existing trails on either side of the Oklahoma River, a need frequently expressed by those who are active users of trail system. Currently, the only way to cross the river is to come off the trails and up onto roadway bridges.

The bridge is centrally located on the river trails and in close proximity to the Wheeler District (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=21961&p=21699#post21699) , about a quarter mile west of its Ferris wheel.

As part of MAPS 3, a new West Trail was built to link the river trails to Lake Overholser and beyond.

Will Rogers Bike Trail (http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=43086&p=986114#post986114), another MAPS 3 project, is currently under construction and will link the Lake Hefner Trails south to the Oklahoma River. When complete, it will be possible for cyclists and pedestrians to make one huge loop starting downtown, west and north to Lake Overholser, northeast to Lake Hefner, and then south again to the central city.

No funding source has been identified however the presentation suggests the possible inclusion in the 2017 General Obligation Bond which comes up for a public vote this fall.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge4.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge5.jpg


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge8.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge9.jpg

I have run under that existing bridge on the north side a fair number of times and have wondered about something like this.

It's badly needed and really a good location for crossing over.

I'm sure the Wheeler people will be excited about this.

Pete, I know I once knew it but who owns the land on the north side of the river there?

This would be amazing. I think about this every time I pass this bridge. Even the sanctioned "crossovers" (at Robinson and Portland) are terrifying, and trying to cross at Western, Walker, Penn, and May is doable but even scarier. This is desperately needed - hope we can make it happen!

Pete, I know I once knew it but who owns the land on the north side of the river there?

It's all owned by the City.

Yes! I really hope this happens as it is desperately needed for those trails.

I know the Wheeler group was advocating for people to list it as a suggestion during the (IIRC) bond survey a few weeks back.

I like it very much. IMO the blue proposed trail should also connect to skydance so you could have a logical flow through the park and to the south side...

(I know the existing trails get you close, but it should be a very deliberate flow IMO)

This would be amazing if realized. I actually walked across that bridge the other day. Quite amazing views!

This would be great. Absolutely needed IMO.

Even without the obvious functional benefits, this would be worthwhile just from a beautification standpoint.

The proximity of this to the Wheeler District would really enhance the appeal of additional Riverfront development in this section of the river. Imagine having a boardwalk spanning the south shore from the ferris wheel to this pedestrian bridge, with maybe a nice hotel and some restaurants along the north shore.

Has the city developed a master plan for riverfront development? It would be nice to know the long-term direction for the river apart from the Riversport attractions.

^^^^^

Bout time! Been talkin about this idea forever and a day!

Would be pretty neat if they had one of those little trains like the zoo has running the trail route all the time. Not like 24-7

Great post CS_Mike.

Dream come true! Hope the city takes this proposal & run with it. Very familiar with this abandoned bridge; once suggested that they turn this into a fishing pier similar to the one on Riverside Drive in Tulsa where they have a low water dam:


http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/10/a10be36b-8377-5bed-b821-e657b7e1fd80/5434326a6ad76.image.jpg?resize=300%2C204 http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/ad/bad71d8b-54d9-5b03-8d07-547c5333e877/5435c3a54291f.image.jpg?resize=300%2C182
The Pedestrian Bridge on Tulsa's Arkansas River (built 1975) has a picturesque view of downtown; also great for bike riding, fishing, fireworks & recreation.

Understand that this area of the Oklahoma River on the abandoned trestle (between S. Western & Exchange Avenue Bridge south @ McKinley) isn't suitable for fishing; that area of the river is occasionally drained.

Steve's story which includes comments by Scott Dedmon, Mike Knopp of the Oklahoma City Boathouse foundation, and Blair Humphreys.

http://m.newsok.com/article/5543026

^

Right on cue.

I need to start demanding a paycheck from the Oklahoman.

Tom Elmore is still around and up to his old ways. From the Oklahoman.com comments on the story:

"This was the Frisco line's direct connection from OKC Union Station - train yard obliterated by rocket-scientists at ODOT - to, yeah, WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT. So - yeah, sure - let's "turn it into some pimped-up pedestrian bridge." Back to cave-man days. Who needs modern transportation? (Ask former congressman Ernest J. Istook, who funded the destruction of the Union Station facility and its connections to make way for ODOT's ugly, poorly-built "New Crosstown," which, as I predicted - is now up around ONE BILLION DOLLARS, far, far above ODOT's estimates. Oh - and guess what? ODOT's BROKE - along with the rest of state government. While the big shots in OKC keep right on running long-standing, taxpaying businesses out-uh-there, in favor of more maintenance-intensive foofaraw down on the muddy ditch.)"

These are the same people who would have opposed MAPS had Ron Norick not taken this aggressive city project underground before it was unveiled to the public. Had it not been for MAPS; most of the talent in OKC would reside in the DFW & Houston areas.

Oklahoma City must continue its momentum beyond 2020 with projects that will make our city more cosmetically appealing to new corporations & businesses for relocation & expansion. Our downtown arena was a catalyst for the NBA Thunder. Had we not passed MAPS, Devon Energy was planning to relocate to Houston.

Oklahoma City lost Fleming to Dallas, Kerr-McGee to Houston; two of our Fortune 500/1000 companies along with the good paying jobs those corporations provided.

Since the passage of MAPS, OKC has prospered. Pre-1990, our city looked like a big old raggedy town--as cheap & unattractive as a bride in daisy duke blue jean shorts on her wedding day. Yeah, we looked like a cheap trashy whore with no class--and all ass.

Let's continue to rejuvenate the beauty of our city that was neglected from 1960-1990 with projects that would have stagnated our growth like the Pei Plan, Sting of Pearls river plan & the reckless destruction of the Urban Renewal. There are beautiful people here, let's also reflect that beauty in our town.

Minor quibble, but my OCD side is killing me. The placement of the covered sections really bug me. Three sections on the western edge that are symmetrically placed, but only one on the east edge that completely unbalances the design. Grrrr...

On that side they're probably positioned to maximize sight lines of the skyline.

On that side they're probably positioned to maximize sight lines of the skyline.

Good point Spartan. The east side of that bridge doesn't off anything scenic other than an alternative to the other side--I've drove off that bridge as a kid in the 1960s. The dept at the time was around 10-12 feet midway.

May have missed something; has a price tag been mentioned on this project?

That sure is a lot of wood . Didn't the Skydance bridge suffer from warping wood?

Tom Elmore is still around and up to his old ways. From the Oklahoman.com comments on the story:

"This was the Frisco line's direct connection from OKC Union Station - train yard obliterated by rocket-scientists at ODOT - to, yeah, WILL ROGERS WORLD AIRPORT. So - yeah, sure - let's "turn it into some pimped-up pedestrian bridge." Back to cave-man days. Who needs modern transportation? (Ask former congressman Ernest J. Istook, who funded the destruction of the Union Station facility and its connections to make way for ODOT's ugly, poorly-built "New Crosstown," which, as I predicted - is now up around ONE BILLION DOLLARS, far, far above ODOT's estimates. Oh - and guess what? ODOT's BROKE - along with the rest of state government. While the big shots in OKC keep right on running long-standing, taxpaying businesses out-uh-there, in favor of more maintenance-intensive foofaraw down on the muddy ditch.)"

I like Tom's passion for all things rail, especially passenger and commuter rail, but he's really got to let the loss of the yard at Union Station go. He's not wrong that Union Station and it's yard would have been much easier and more grand to use for an intermodal transit hub, but that ship has *LONG* since sailed. And besides, a commuter rail train could still make the connection to WRWA from Stanta Fe Station by taking what's known as the "Packingtown Lead", which runs east-west roughly where SW 20th St would be, connecting the north-south BNSF "Red Rock Subdivision" mainline east of Shields to the former Frisco mainline he speaks of, just west of Agnew. The connection is actually easier to traverse, as there's a direct wye - which did not exist to get trains from the Red Rock Sub into the Union Station yard.


That sure is a lot of wood . Didn't the Skydance bridge suffer from warping wood?

For what it's worth, the bridge's current decking material is wood as well, although we're talking wooden railroad ties treated with creosote.

As I was running by the existing bridge over the weekend, it finally occurred to me what this reminds me a bit of. Last year I took a vacation to NYC and spend a couple days walking around Manhattan, and part of that included finding and walking the High Line (http://www.thehighline.org/visit). This wouldn't be near as long of course, but the idea is roughly similar.

This is badly needed, and I think it would add a lot to the trails and to the area. Good crossing is one of the things the Tulsa River trails have over OKC's trails. Tulsa has at least 4 good, safe crossings. While right now all of OKC's are kind of sketchy and aren't really connected well with the trail.

This is badly needed, and I think it would add a lot to the trails and to the area. Good crossing is one of the things the Tulsa River trails have over OKC's trails. Tulsa has at least 4 good, safe crossings. While right now all of OKC's are kind of sketchy and aren't really connected well with the trail.

Tulsa received $350 million in pledges toward their River Parks area renovation headed by lead donor George Kaiser (Foundation).

The competitiveness between Oklahoma's two largest cities has brought out the best in public tax supported initiatives (Tulsa Vision 2025 & OKC MAPS & Bonds) & private pledges & donations. The success of these programs has spurred private development three-fold for the millions of tax dollars invested.

City of OKC needs to continue its development & infrastructure along the stretch west of the Oklahoma River from Western Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue (north & south banks).

This is badly needed, and I think it would add a lot to the trails and to the area. Good crossing is one of the things the Tulsa River trails have over OKC's trails. Tulsa has at least 4 good, safe crossings. While right now all of OKC's are kind of sketchy and aren't really connected well with the trail.

But the comments on Facebook on the Oklahoman's article about this told me about what a big waste of time and money this is! :rolleyes:

But the comments on Facebook on the Oklahoman's article about this told me about what a big waste of time and money this is! :rolleyes:

I was curious so I went and took a look. And wow you weren't exaggerating. I even went on to read the comments about the new park and there was legitimate comments of people saying they should have made the land parking for downtown instead.

It is crazy how different the collective mindset is on this forum. Sometimes I wonder how any MAPS ever passed.

Fortunately some of those folks either can't vote in OKC elections (because they don't live in it but must share their opinion anyway) or just don't.

It's amazing how vocal some folks are with their ignorance. "Wasting money on a stupid Ferris wheel when our schools are failing."

It goes to show you how much most of us live in a protected shell and either dismiss people like this or don't even realize they are out there.

It's amazing how vocal some folks are with their ignorance. "Wasting money on a stupid Ferris wheel when our schools are failing."

Unfortunately the most vocal are usually the least informed.... Had they taken the time to inform themselves there wouldn't be much left to say as most of their questions would have been answered.

I see those Facebook comments all the time and it makes me want to scream.

Since we're on the subject, the survey results from 2009 tell a very interesting story. The numbers from this News9 report:

Reasons to vote Yes:
Trails, Sidewalks, and Parks -- 71% For / 28% Against
Light Rail/Streetcar -- 62% For / 35% Against
Senior Wellness Centers -- 57% For / 41% Against
Downtown Park -- 51% For / 47% Against

Reasons to vote No:
Fire and Police Resources -- 88% Agree / 11% Disagree
List Projects on Ballot -- 80% Agree / 15% Disagree
Rafting and Kayaking -- 48% Agree / 51% Disagree
Convention Center -- 46% Agree / 54% Disagree

Obviously their questions are poorly worded because the data don't provide the actual approval ratings for the projects, just whether people perceive them as reasons to vote for or against the entire ballot, which is ambiguous.

Still though, seems like the rough ordering of the projects was/is:
1. Trails, Sidewalks, Parks
2. Streetcar
3. Senior Wellness Centers
4. Downtown Park
5. Convention Center
6. White Water Rafting Course

As you guys can see the park was the most closely contested project race, split almost 50/50. Surprisingly the Streetcar received a roughly +27% approval rating (I say surprising since everybody outside this forum seemed to have forgotten it was a thing until construction started). And perhaps even more shocking, and kind of funny honestly, is the fact that the RiverSport Rapids were apparently less popular than the Convention Center!

Honestly though, both this forum and the NewsOK comments represent the two extremes with regard to the pedestrian bridge, MAPS, etc. Most regular people don't care this much (I know because of the looks on their faces when I get started on this kinda thing ;) ).

source: http://www.news9.com/clip/4370506/breaking-down-voters-attitudes

I find people on this forum to be more optimistic about all things OKC. People I talk to on the street or read comments on news sites really like to be vocally negative.

Obviously we all don't agree on everything but for the most part people here tend to see the bright side of parks and street cars.

Tulsa received $350 million in pledges toward their River Parks area renovation headed by lead donor George Kaiser (Foundation).

The competitiveness between Oklahoma's two largest cities has brought out the best in public tax supported initiatives (Tulsa Vision 2025 & OKC MAPS & Bonds) & private pledges & donations. The success of these programs has spurred private development three-fold for the millions of tax dollars invested.

City of OKC needs to continue its development & infrastructure along the stretch west of the Oklahoma River from Western Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue (north & south banks).

The $350 million for The Gathering Place is understated. That’s the donated money for phase I. There’s also almost $150 million in city bond money and federal grants for the new low water dam, the new pedestrian bridge, reconstructing Riverside and bank work. The total now in public and private dollars for The Gather Place is nearing half a billion dollars, for phase I alone.

Sadly, as part of all that work the railroad pedestrian bridge in Tulsa is about to be no more. It’s closed now as part of The Gathering Place and will be torn down and replaced by a higher capacity pedestrian bridge as the new low water dam is built. So today the Tulsa area has 7 pedestrian crossings for The Arkansas and will be back to 8 when the new bridge opens in 2020. A new 9th bridge is part of the upcoming Tulsa/Jenks low water dam at 106th due to be completed in 2024 and pending design there should be a 10th with the new Gilcrease Expressway toll bridge west of downtown. All but the Memorial bridge are already connected to the Tulsa area trails system and there are plans to connect the Memorial bridge.

Tulsa pedestrian river crossings:
Highway 97 bridge near downtown Sand Springs
Gilcrease Tollway bridge (this is the new toll highway bridge being planned at about 60th W Ave with pedestrian access, due to open in about 3 years)
I-244 bridge – by downtown
Southwest Blvd bridge – by downtown
21st Street bridge
Pedestrian Bridge @ 33rd St (currently closed and being replaced, new bridge due to open in 2020 with new low water dam. Budgeted at $26 million and in design now)
71st Street bridge
Jenks pedestrian bridge @ 96th St
Jenks Dam pedestrian bridge @ 106th (this is a new pedestrian specific bridge due to be built with Jenks Dam opening in 2024)
Memorial Drive pedestrian bridge in Bixby

When I read a facebook comment on any new project announced in OKC, it never fails to amaze me the number of people who know absolutely nothing about civics and what each level of government does. And every single time about 75% of the comments sound something like "How can we afford to build this when our schools are broke".

When I read a facebook comment on any new project announced in OKC, it never fails to amaze me the number of people who know absolutely nothing about civics and what each level of government does. And every single time about 75% of the comments sound something like "How can we afford to build this when our schools are broke".
+1

The $350 million for The Gathering Place is understated. That’s the donated money for phase I. There’s also almost $150 million in city bond money and federal grants for the new low water dam, the new pedestrian bridge, reconstructing Riverside and bank work. The total now in public and private dollars for The Gather Place is nearing half a billion dollars, for phase I alone.

Sadly, as part of all that work the railroad pedestrian bridge in Tulsa is about to be no more. It’s closed now as part of The Gathering Place and will be torn down and replaced by a higher capacity pedestrian bridge as the new low water dam is built. So today the Tulsa area has 7 pedestrian crossings for The Arkansas and will be back to 8 when the new bridge opens in 2020. A new 9th bridge is part of the upcoming Tulsa/Jenks low water dam at 106th due to be completed in 2024 and pending design there should be a 10th with the new Gilcrease Expressway toll bridge west of downtown. All but the Memorial bridge are already connected to the Tulsa area trails system and there are plans to connect the Memorial bridge.

Tulsa pedestrian river crossings:
Highway 97 bridge near downtown Sand Springs
Gilcrease Tollway bridge (this is the new toll highway bridge being planned at about 60th W Ave with pedestrian access, due to open in about 3 years)
I-244 bridge – by downtown
Southwest Blvd bridge – by downtown
21st Street bridge
Pedestrian Bridge @ 33rd St (currently closed and being replaced, new bridge due to open in 2020 with new low water dam. Budgeted at $26 million and in design now)
71st Street bridge
Jenks pedestrian bridge @ 96th St
Jenks Dam pedestrian bridge @ 106th (this is a new pedestrian specific bridge due to be built with Jenks Dam opening in 2024)
Memorial Drive pedestrian bridge in Bixby

Do these new dams on the Ark have a lock system like the OKC dams that let the river cruisers navigate for about 6 miles ?

Would be nice if they did ?

This is badly needed, and I think it would add a lot to the trails and to the area. Good crossing is one of the things the Tulsa River trails have over OKC's trails. Tulsa has at least 4 good, safe crossings. While right now all of OKC's are kind of sketchy and aren't really connected well with the trail.

I'm not really sure you could call OKC's an actual trail system compared to other cities with actual trail systems.

The $350 million for The Gathering Place is understated. That’s the donated money for phase I. There’s also almost $150 million in city bond money and federal grants for the new low water dam, the new pedestrian bridge, reconstructing Riverside and bank work. The total now in public and private dollars for The Gather Place is nearing half a billion dollars, for phase I alone.

Sadly, as part of all that work the railroad pedestrian bridge in Tulsa is about to be no more. It’s closed now as part of The Gathering Place and will be torn down and replaced by a higher capacity pedestrian bridge as the new low water dam is built. So today the Tulsa area has 7 pedestrian crossings for The Arkansas and will be back to 8 when the new bridge opens in 2020. A new 9th bridge is part of the upcoming Tulsa/Jenks low water dam at 106th due to be completed in 2024 and pending design there should be a 10th with the new Gilcrease Expressway toll bridge west of downtown. All but the Memorial bridge are already connected to the Tulsa area trails system and there are plans to connect the Memorial bridge.

Tulsa pedestrian river crossings:
Highway 97 bridge near downtown Sand Springs
Gilcrease Tollway bridge (this is the new toll highway bridge being planned at about 60th W Ave with pedestrian access, due to open in about 3 years)
I-244 bridge – by downtown
Southwest Blvd bridge – by downtown
21st Street bridge
Pedestrian Bridge @ 33rd St (currently closed and being replaced, new bridge due to open in 2020 with new low water dam. Budgeted at $26 million and in design now)
71st Street bridge
Jenks pedestrian bridge @ 96th St
Jenks Dam pedestrian bridge @ 106th (this is a new pedestrian specific bridge due to be built with Jenks Dam opening in 2024)
Memorial Drive pedestrian bridge in Bixby

Thanks for the list. From what I've been told, the Gilcrease Expressway will have full trails along it, just like BA south loop and Creek turnpikes, including pedestrians on the bridge across the Arkansas. I'll have to ask what width they are looking at for the crossing.

The other big difference in the Tulsa bridges from the current OKC bridges is that you do not have to leave the trail to get on to the bridge, it is seamless part of the trail system.


I'm not really sure you could call OKC's an actual trail system compared to other cities with actual trail systems.

True, but at least they are working on it and I think they're learning from past mistakes. Although the lack of true connection between the west river trails and the river trails makes absolutely no sense to me, they are at least working on the bridge. I really want to know how the Tulsa area gets the turnpike authority to put trails along all of its turnpikes, but OKC doesn't do the same. A trail along the right of way of the Kilpatrick would be very nice for riding.

Highway, Rail and River ROWs make the best locations for trails, because they typically have few road crossings. Unlike the Grand trail that has hundreds of road/driveway crossings, to the point most bikers I know just ride the road there still. Those ROWs also typically go somewhere, so they can used for commuting too.

Do these new dams on the Ark have a lock system like the OKC dams that let the river cruisers navigate for about 6 miles ?

Would be nice if they did ?

No, no locks. These dams are going to be like large air bladders that can be collapsed during large river flows and to allow sediment to flow down river.

The Arkansas is a large river so the cost would be extreme and from what I understand the topography and the only slight elevation change through the bend at Tulsa make it unsuitable for locks anyway. This is why the port is at Catoosa on the Verdigris River and not on the Arkansas river somewhere.

The naysayers will continue to be a cancer to the progress wing that promotes our city. They are quick to tell you about how they want their tax dollars spent & that they pay your salary.

I told one of these naysayers to go to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and have them compute how much of my salary her tax contributions pay--I'd gladly give her a personal refund. Never heard from her again.

It's time to clean up the black eyesores & crows feet of our city (Producers Coop Mill, Pull-A-Part, abandoned bridge & schools), and get doubly tough on the litter bugs who love to clean their cars by dumping the debris in parking lots & streets.

The $350 million for The Gathering Place is understated. That’s the donated money for phase I. There’s also almost $150 million in city bond money and federal grants for the new low water dam, the new pedestrian bridge, reconstructing Riverside and bank work. The total now in public and private dollars for The Gather Place is nearing half a billion dollars, for phase I alone.


That's like counting the new I-40, boulevard, streetcar, and convention center toward the overall Maps 3 park budget. When in reality we know we're all just a line item in the convention center budget at the end of the day :P

That's like counting the new I-40, boulevard, streetcar, and convention center toward the overall Maps 3 park budget. When in reality we know we're all just a line item in the convention center budget at the end of the day :PThe new I-40 is almost a billion alone.

Yeah so take that Tulsa $$$$

(I wish they would)

It looks like 1.9 million will be going towards this project as part of the 2017 Bond Issue


b. Abandoned rail corridor from S Agnew Ave to the River Trail
on the north side of the Oklahoma River
$1,900,000

- https://www.okc.gov/home/showdocument?id=7501

1. New Trails:
a. SW 119th St from May Ave to Chelsea Chase $700,000
b. Abandoned rail corridor from S Agnew Ave to the River Trail on the north side of the Oklahoma River $1,900,00

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trailbridge7.jpg
Rough estimate of $1.9 million to transform the abandoned rail corridor into something pedestrian & family friendly.

Let's get started...

Any ideas on when the bond funding will kick in for this project? The renderings look amazing. This will help spur even more development south of the river and bring in another unique architectural element to the urban core.

I just asked Blair Humphries and he said the funding is in place as part of the 2017 general obligation bond but the city has yet to hire an architect or start any definite planning.

Are there any updates on this?

I can't find any progress on this, but I do see it's on the map as a project:
16492

And on this summary doc it's still listed as "proposed":
https://data.okc.gov/portal/custom/viewer?datasetName=Better+Streets+Safer+City+Summa ry&view=betterstreetssafercity

For some strange reason, the Oklahoman has a story today about this bridge.

I've had all these images for a couple of years (including the drone shots I took) but have been sitting on them because nothing has been happening. The article says they plan to start in 2024 and that only a very basic bridge is planned with other enhancements possible if additional funding is identified.

Design is by AHMM.



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So you got a Monday's paper today 12/26/2022? Because we were delivered Friday's paper again today on Monday.

So you got a Monday's paper today 12/26/2022? Because we were delivered Friday's paper again today on Monday.

I only get the online version.

Like Pete, I get the online version, It includes Sunday's (paper & online) versions unless you designate to donate the Sunday paper edition.. My plan (billed every 3rd month ($100.00) to my credit card is equivalent to $33.33 a month. The Sunday paper, I donate to a school.

Often you will see the pattern Pete mentions where the Oklahoman (As big as an entity it is) appears to follow the OKCTalk.com lead.

Lately, it appears Mr. Lackmeyers' strategy is getting to be contagious among his co-workers. Strange occurrence how his articles' appear to be a day late and a dollar short.

It was puzzling at first when Pete first pointed this out after he started showing impressive Drone shots of our city.

My initial impression, why would the Oklahoman 'cherry pick' from an online source--OKCTalk.com. My opinion as I continued to follow the online Oklahoman--this happens far too many times for this to be a coincidence, Pete, cited several of these in real time. OKCTalk.com comes out with a story and it's later followed up by the Oklahoman with their version which looks quite similar.

It's IMO shameful that a city's main daily paper relies on side feature stories picked up from/off the internet to expand its news.

A few years ago I went across the current wooden bridge. I wouldn't do it now. I'm surprised they never blocked it off. That will be a good place for a real pedestrian bridge.

I carried my bike over the current railroad bridge earlier this year, we thought it might be an easy shortcut. I definitely puckered up more than once on a few of the loose cross ties, and we didn't walk back over it a second time. Excited for a real bridge.

I carried my bike over the current railroad bridge earlier this year, we thought it might be an easy shortcut. I definitely puckered up more than once on a few of the loose cross ties, and we didn't walk back over it a second time. Excited for a real bridge.Yeah. We were puckered too. My best friend and I are geocachers and there's a cache about halfway across the bridge. He's made it to worse but that was about my limit.