Structure being built over the I-44/OK 66 Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa

[bugo]

I read about this a couple of years ago.  ODOT is building a "gateway" to Tulsa at the east end of the Arkansas River bridge (the 51st Street Bridge) to welcome travelers to Tulsa (why it isn't between the end of the Turner Turnpike and the I-44/244 split is beyond me.  That way it would catch travelers staying on I-44 and travelers headed downtown along I-244.)  Last time I drove over the bridge a few days ago, I noticed there were vertical trusses on each side of the bridge similar to the trusses used for overhead signage on freeways.  There is not yet any structure built over the highway.  Hopefully they won't have to close the freeway while they are building this structure.

[bugo]

They are also building similar structures on the Lewis Avenue bridge over I-44.  They will not cross over the highway, they are just "posts".  They have a pseudo southwestern looking motif.

[US71]

They are also building similar structures on the Lewis Avenue bridge over I-44.  They will not cross over the highway, they are just "posts".  They have a pseudo southwestern looking motif.

Decoration.

[bugo]

Here's a picture of one of what I call "monoliths":



And yes, David, it's for decoration.  That was never in question.

[rte66man]

Here's a picture of one of what I call "monoliths":



And yes, David, it's for decoration.  That was never in question.

Look just like the monoliths at the ends of the overpasses on the new I40 stretch in OKC.

[Scott5114]

They could have done a better job of tying them into the bridge railing so that they look like part of the bridge. As it stands, they just look like random things along the side of the road.

[bugo]

I hope they light up at night.

[bugo]

Here are some more snaps of the monoliths:







When stopped at the light today, I asked a construction worker if they were going to light up and he said they would.  I hope they're pretty when they're lit up.