A nearly 4,000-foot bridge that has carried travelers across the South Canadian River since 1933 was included as a notable feature of Route 66's broader National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark designation, timed to Route 66's 100th birthday. The Bridgeport Pony Bridge, long known as the longest bridge on Oklahoma's stretch of the Mother Road, was not individually designated by ASCE. It reopened in 2024 following a $35 million transformation that included a giant new compass meant to help guide travelers along the historic highway.
According to KFOR, the bridge spans the South Canadian River and stretches nearly 4,000 feet, making it the longest bridge on Oklahoma's section of Route 66. The station reports the structure was closed for almost two years during its rebuild before reopening in 2024, and that the $35 million project included installation of the giant compass to help mark the way for travelers along the route.
The landmark designation traces back to a broader recognition of Route 66 itself. The American Society of Civil Engineers approved the highway's designation as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark on July 10, 2025, with the nomination jointly submitted by 10 ASCE Sections representing the eight states the route passes through, according to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. The same report notes that three Oklahoma bridges, including Bridgeport's, contributed to that designation, and ties the recognition to Route 66's Centennial in 2026.
A Bridge With a Long and Layered History
The Bridgeport Pony Bridge's story stretches back nearly a century. The Oklahoma Historical Society says the bridge was completed in 1933, and that when it was finished, it was Oklahoma's longest bridge, the longest toll-free crossing on U.S. Highway 66, and the longest example of its type anywhere in the country. The Historical Society also reports the bridge is now individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the national level of significance, with a period of significance running from 1933 to 1962 for transportation and engineering.
That individual listing marks a shift from the bridge's earlier historic status. The Oklahoma Historical Society notes the structure was previously listed only as a contributing resource within the broader Bridgeport Hill–Hydro Route 66 Segment before receiving its own national-level designation.
Sources differ on the bridge's exact length. The Oklahoma Historical Society puts it at 3,944 feet, while Structure magazine reports 3,945 feet and Route 66 News reports 3,990 feet. Structure also describes the bridge as the longest of its kind in the United States and the second-longest bridge in the Oklahoma Historic Bridge Inventory.
Decades of Wear Led to a Years-Long Rebuild
By 2011, routine inspections had classified the bridge as structurally deficient, Structure magazine reports, setting the stage for the rehabilitation that would eventually close the span to traffic. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association reports the bridge closed for its rebuild on October 31, 2022.
Accounts of how long that rebuild actually took vary. KGOU reports the bridge reopened to traffic on May 10, 2024, following what it describes as an 18-month reconstruction project costing $35 million, while Structure magazine characterizes the same work as a complex four-year rehabilitation. Despite the differing timelines, both accounts agree the project preserved pieces of the original structure: Structure reports that existing columns, caissons and portions of the web walls were retained, with the original pony trusses incorporated as decorative elements on the modernized bridge.
What the Landmark Title Does and Doesn't Mean
For property owners and preservationists watching the designation, the American Society of Civil Engineers has been clear about its limits. ASCE states that a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark designation creates no legal obligations and does not restrict an owner's ability to alter, rehabilitate, or replace a landmark, meaning the new title is an honor rather than a regulatory mandate.
The KFOR report about the designation was produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools used to reformat information into a news article, gathered by journalists employed by the station and credited to Jacy Jennings, with KFOR staff editing and fact-checking the report before publication.
