$408M Lake Texoma Bridge Replacement Kicks Off This Summer, Done by Fall 2029
According to Oklahoma Energy Today, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission has awarded a $408 million contract to Zachry Construction and Traylor Bros., Inc. to design and replace the US-70 Roosevelt Bridge over Lake Texoma, connecting southern Oklahoma and northern Texas.
A Three-Year Build on a High-Traffic Crossing
The Roosevelt Bridge, which opened in 1945 and currently carries 8,500 vehicles per day, was badly damaged by flooding last spring and temporarily closed, forcing a 35-mile detour for local residents. The contract covers final design and full construction of a new four-lane bridge, roadway approach improvements along US-70, and enhanced safety features including full shoulders and lighting.
ODOT Director of Design Justin Hernandez said the department will “work side by side” with the selected team to “lay the groundwork for such a big undertaking.” Construction is expected to begin later this summer, with completion targeted for fall 2029.
The project uses a “modified progressive design-build” delivery method, a first for ODOT in Oklahoma. This approach allowed the agency to evaluate three competing teams on project approach, technical solutions, schedule, and cost, rather than price alone. ODOT says the method is designed to incentivize teams to streamline delivery and optimize the budget and timeline.
What It Means for Subcontractors
- Get on the radar now. Zachry Construction and Traylor Bros. will be building out their subcontractor and supplier networks during the design development phase this spring. Oklahoma and North Texas subs in civil, structural steel, concrete, and site prep should be reaching out to both firms before construction mobilization begins this summer.
- Three years of work. A fall 2029 completion means sustained demand for equipment, labor, and specialty services across multiple construction seasons, not a short-burst project.
- Community coordination is built in. ODOT is planning public open houses and emphasizes minimizing community impact, so subcontractors with experience in active-traffic or community-adjacent jobsites will have an advantage.
- Design-build means early involvement matters. The progressive design-build model rewards teams that engage during the planning phase. Subs who wait for formal bid packages may miss the window to lock in preferred vendor status.
- Watch for specialty scopes. Full shoulders, bridge lighting, and roadway improvements along US-70 will generate separate scopes in electrical, paving, and traffic control, areas where smaller specialty contractors can compete directly.
