Wanette–Byars Bridge

The Wanette–Byars Bridge is a long bridge in central Oklahoma. It crosses the Canadian River between Byars in McClain County and Wanette in Pottawatomie County. The bridge is on a county road, not a state-designated highway.

Wanette–Byars Bridge
A view through the bridge's portal
Coordinates	34°55′12″N 97°03′00″W
Carries	1 lane of Drummond Road
Crosses	Canadian River
Locale	Wanette-Byars, Oklahoma
Maintained by	McClain Co./Pottawatomie Co.
Characteristics
Design	Camelback truss
Total length	780 feet (238 m)
Longest span	265 feet (81 m)
Location

Old Santa Fe Railroad Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Nearest city	Wanette, Oklahoma
Coordinates	34°55′13″N 97°3′4″W
Area	less than one acre
Built	1903 (1903)
Architectural style	Camel Back-Through Truss
NRHP reference No.	10000070[1]
Added to NRHP	March 10, 2010

The bridge was built in 1902 by the American Bridge Company^[2] to serve as a rail bridge connecting Pauls Valley with Shawnee.^[3] It was later converted to a one-lane bridge for auto traffic. The bridge is of the camelback truss design and is composed of three spans, each 265 feet (81 m). Each of these spans are the longest in Oklahoma.^[2]

Until 1992, the bridge had a wooden deck. In 1992, the bridge's deck was destroyed by arson, closing it for two years. When the bridge reopened, it had a concrete and asphalt driving surface.^[3]

The bridge is an oft-utilized link between Byars and Wanette. The two nearest bridges are between fifteen and twenty-five miles (24–40 km) away.^[3]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 as Old Santa Fe Railroad Bridge and has also been denoted as Structure #63D3342E1446000 and as Flynn Bridge. It is a Camel Back-Through Truss bridge.^[1] It is 785 feet (239 m) long.^[4]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Kinsler, Wes. Wanette-Byars Bridge Across the Canadian River. Oklahoma Bridges. URL accessed 1 August 2006.
3. Wanette and Byars linked together for 100 years. The Purcell Register. 20 March 2003. URL accessed 1 August 2006.
4. "3 Oklahoma sites added to historic places register". Associated Press. March 30, 2010.