OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – STV, a professional services firm that plans, designs and manages infrastructure projects across North America, today celebrated the completion of the iconic Route 66 William H. Murray “Pony” Bridge in Hinton, Oklahoma. STV was the lead designer for the nearly 90-year-old bridge’s long-anticipated revitalization, which included a new kiosk and observation area. STV preserved the bridge’s 38 unique 100-foot pony truss spans as aesthetic components while utilizing full-depth precast concrete deck panels and Ultra-High Performance Concrete joints, a first for a highway bridge in the state.
The project’s completion was celebrated with an official ribbon cutting attended by Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell along with senior leadership from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
“This is one of Oklahoma’s most important bridges on old Route 66, attracting tourists from all over the world, and we successfully preserved its unique features while implementing emerging technology,” said J.J. Roohms, PE, president of transportation operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado and the southwest and mountain states at STV. “Preserving this bridge will not only allow people to continue to enjoy a piece of history, it will also serve as a leading case study for efficiency and pioneering bridge design.”
STV’s design called for the replacement of the existing truss spans with full-depth precast concrete panels on new, simple-span steel beams. Concrete pier caps were designed to retrofit the existing columns that were part of the original construction in 1933. Once removed, the truss panels were repainted and added to the outside of the pier caps as aesthetic, non-structural elements to preserve the experience of traveling across this long 40-span bridge structure, totaling almost a mile.
The project area also provides critical habitat for the Arkansas River Shiner, a federally threatened species necessitating seasonal construction considerations and conservation measures. As part of the project, STV’s environmental group led all environmental studies and served as the prime for consulting services, including preparation of the Documented Categorical Exclusion.
The firm has a long history with the William H. Murray Bridge renovation. In addition to providing lead design services for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT), STV was previously selected to provide reconnaissance data collection, stakeholder coordination and an alternative analysis report study during the planning stage of the project.
STV has successfully brought many successful transit, highway and bridge projects for the local Oklahoma City community. The firm was responsible for an Environmental Assessment for the replacement of a historic bridge on SH 33 in Guthrie and was recently awarded the 2024 Grand Conceptor Award from the American Council of Engineering Company’s Oklahoma Chapter – the highest engineering achievement award for the organization – for its design of the wastewater treatment plant expansion in Owasso. Currently, STV’s design team is working on the pivotal 8-mile interstate reconstruction of I-35, including mainline, frontage road and ramp reconstructions at six interchanges at the Texas/Oklahoma border. STV was also selected by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to provide comprehensive design services for three major sections of the I-44/Turner Turnpike widening as part of ACCESS Oklahoma.
