Depression-era Bridges in Oklahoma
Depression-era Works Program Bridges and Road-Related Resources
Mead & Hunt has assisted ODOT in the inventory and evaluation of bridges and culverts constructed by the Depression-era Works Programs in Oklahoma between 1933 and 1945. The study resulted in a Programmatic Agreement for the streamlined review and treatment of Depression-era bridges.
The importance of New Deal work-relief cannot be overstated in Oklahoma, so our efforts have resulted in a commitment to public outreach.
As part of the public outreach, ODOT has produced a public context for New Deal bridge and roadway construction (available below). A Google Earth layer illustrating the location of bridges and culverts constructed as part of a confirmed New Deal Works Program project can also be downloaded to find New Deal bridge projects near you.
Final Report
Oklahoma Depression-era Bridges and Road-related Resources, 1933-1945: Historic Context and National Register of Historic Places Evaluation (August 2016)
Programmatic Agreement
Programmatic Agreement regarding the Streamlining of Section 106 Review for Projects Involving Bridges Constructed Under Depression-Era Federal Relief Programs (1933-1945)
Public Outreach for New Deal Transportation in Oklahoma
A New Deal for Oklahoma
The first stipulation that resulted from the Programmatic Agreement above was to produce a public context for New Deal programs in Oklahoma. Between 1933 and 1945, Oklahoma’s roads and bridges underwent a period of significant construction and improvement. Dirt roads became interstate highways, bridges and culverts spanned rivers and creeks, and Oklahoma began to mature into the thriving and interconnected state we know today.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt began his term in 1933, initiating the “New Deal for America” during his first 100 days in office to lift the country out of the Great Depression. The context provides a history of bridge and road building in Oklahoma between 1933 and 1945.
Interactive Google Earth Layer
The second stipulation resulting from the Programmatic Agreement was to produce an interactive layer of Oklahoma's transportation resources that had a confirmed association with the New Deal. With assistance from Mead & Hunt, ODOT has mapped all bridges with a confirmed New Deal association in Oklahoma. Each bridge or bridge concentration has a clickable link that will direct you to a form associated with the structure or concentration. We have included information about the following:
- Bridges and bridge concentrations recommended to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as part of the Oklahoma Depression-era Bridges and Road-related Resources, 1933-1945 study
- Depression-era bridges that were previously listed on or determined eligible for listing on the NRHP
- Confirmed New Deal bridges that were recommended as not eligible for inclusion in the NRHP.
- State and Municipal Parks that have a confirmed New Deal association (these resources will link to thematic evaluations conducted by the State Historic Preservation Office).
The browser that is built into Google Earth can be picky about what types of links it will open. We suggest doing the following:
- Under the Tools menu, click"Options", "General" tab. Within the "Display" box, click "Show web results in external browser" or "Open links in external browser". If you check that box, clicking the links will open your default browser.
