William H. Murray Bridge aka Pony Bridge

About

Stretching 3,944 feet across the South Canadian River, the William H. Murray Bridge -better known as the Pony Bridge - is one of the defining engineering features of Route 66 in western Oklahoma. Built in 1933, the bridge is distinguished by 38 repeating pony-truss spans whose yellow steel frames create its unmistakable profile across the river and surrounding floodplain. The crossing became part of the historic Bridgeport-to-Hydro alignment of Route 66 and today carries US-281 through the same corridor.

After decades of service, the bridge closed in October 2022 for an extensive rehabilitation and reopened to traffic in May 2024. The approximately $35 million project widened the roadway, installed a new concrete deck, refurbished and reattached the historic trusses, and created a nearby parking and observation area with interpretive information. Travelers can once again experience the long succession of yellow trusses from behind the wheel, while the new pullout provides a safer place to stop, photograph the bridge, and learn about its Route 66 history.

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