The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District awarded a construction contract to replace the State Highway 251A bridge over Fort Gibson Dam near Fort Gibson, Okla., on Dec. 15, 2025
The Tulsa District awarded the $63.8 million contract to Alberici Constructors of St. Louis.
The construction contract calls for demolition and replacement of the bridge. The SH-251A bridge was constructed concurrently with the Fort Gibson Dam from 1942 to 1949. With 30 spans, the Fort Gibson Spillway Bridge is the longest bridge in Tulsa District's inventory.
The Tulsa District closed the Highway 251A bridge, which spans the Fort Gibson Dam spillway over the Grand-Neosho River, on April 22, 2025, after a bridge safety inspection identified critical findings. The bridge runs on the line separating Wagoner County and Cherokee County.
"We have been tracking and addressing deficiencies at the Fort Gibson Spillway Bridge," said Patrick Shoopman, Tulsa District bridge safety program manager. "We were surprised at the speed of degradation since the last inspection in November 2024."
The bridge condition does not pose an immediate dam safety risk, nor does it affect powerhouse operations at Fort Gibson Dam.
Tulsa District engineers had conducted frequent inspections at the Fort Gibson Spillway Bridge due to deteriorating conditions.
In 2021, the Tulsa District posted load limitations to prohibit vehicles exceeding 15 tons from using the bridge. In 2023, USACE inspectors recommended closing a portion of the downstream lane on the bridge and, in 2024, the full downstream bridge lane was closed.
A project delivery team from the Tulsa District completed a full design for the replacement of the Fort Gibson Spillway Bridge in 2024.
