Design work begins on Edmond's Sooner Road bridge repairs

The 87-year-old bridge between Covell and Coffee Creek roads was closed last week after state Department of Transportation officials found significant erosion around the timber supports, City Engineer Steve Manek said.

City leaders met Wednesday about an emergency design contract to determine the work needed to repair the bridge. The design contract will cost $25,000.

“The actual repairs could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Manek said.

There is only one home on the closed section of roadway, but 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles typically travel that road each day.

City officials had completed design work on a new bridge to be constructed in the next couple of years for an estimated $2.5 million.

The repair costs and the expense of a new bridge would be the responsibility of the city.

“We have known the bridge has significant issues,” Manek said.

A 10-ton weight limit has been posted on the bridge for some time.

“There is exposed rot on the timber supports,” Manek said. “In the last seven to eight months there has been tremendous loss.”

City leaders are concerned about the instability of the timber piles in the event of a large rainstorm.