Traveling old U.S. Route 66 through Oklahoma reveals more than neon signs and roadside attractions; it also tells the story of the bridges that carried generations of travelers west. Near Catoosa, the H. Tom Kight Jr. Bridges once spanned the original channel of the Verdigris River, now known as Bird Creek. These crossings, named in 1957 for a local public servant, reflect the evolution of highway engineering and the state’s effort to keep up with the heavy demands of America’s most famous road.
Long before steel trusses rose over the water, the crossing was managed by Wofford Ferry, a log raft first established in the late 19th century. By 1925, a dedicated bridge replaced the ferry and became part of the newly designated U.S. Route 66 the following year. That early span quickly showed its limitations, collapsing under a freight truck in 1933. Temporary repairs kept traffic moving, but the incident underscored the need for a sturdier structure. The answer came in 1936, when a new six-span truss bridge was built on a straighter alignment of U.S. Route 66, carrying motorists smoothly across the Verdigris.
As traffic increased in the postwar years, a second bridge was added in 1956 to serve eastbound travelers. Together, the twin spans embodied the height of mid-century U.S. Route 66 highway design. They stood as gateways for travelers heading toward Tulsa or on across the plains. But like many parts of U.S. Route 66, progress and infrastructure upgrades eventually caught up with them. Construction of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in the 1960s required a new channel crossing, and in 1969, modern twin plate-girder bridges were added.
Though bypassed, the original trusses had long afterlives. The 1936 span served until 2010, when severe structural deterioration forced its closure before it was replaced in 2012. Portions of the bridge were preserved and relocated to local parks and even a restaurant, keeping a piece of U.S. Route 66 heritage visible to the public. The 1956 eastbound bridge carried traffic into the 21st century but is now undergoing its own replacement, with work scheduled through 2026. For travelers retracing the Mother Road today, the story of these bridges is a reminder that the history of U.S. Route 66 is not only about the destinations but also the crossings that made the journey possible.
