By Joy Hampton
December 30, 2008 — Tuesday afternoon a trailer got loose from a pickup and struck the steel truss bridge over the Verdigris River on SH 66 north of Catoosa according to Kenna Mitchell, of Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Southbound traffic along SH 66 was routed back to SH 266.
Following inspections by ODOT engineers, one lane was opened southbound on the bridge around 4 p.m. A speed limit of 45 mph will be strictly enforced along with a weight limit not to exceed 20 tons. Loads wider than 10 feet will not be allowed to cross the bridge.
Mitchell said ODOT has set up message boards in several places alerting motorists.
“The right lane southbound will be closed for several weeks,” said Mitchell. “A support beam was severed and other damage occurred.”
