TULSA, Okla. — The Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced today that the SH-100 Bridge over Tenkiller Dam will close to traffic at 7a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014 for repairs.

The bridge is located eight miles north of Gore, Okla. in Sequoyah County.

Both lanes of the bridge will close because the open hatch covers, which are located along the centerline of the roadway, will present a hazard for motorists. The closure is expected to last approximately four months.

Alltech Engineering will repair the hatch covers and expansion joints on the road’s surface which provides access to the hoists that raise the dam’s tainter gates and other equipment beneath the roadway.

“The seals around the hatch covers and in the expansion joints no longer prevent water from leaking onto the tainter gate hoist equipment when it rains,” said Bobby Painter, project engineer, Tulsa District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “The contractor has to remove each 6 by 6 and a half foot hatch cover and repair it.”

The $1.68 million contract includes painting and repairs to equipment beneath the road surface but repairs resulting in a road closure are weather-contingent.

Motorists may use the detour route between Gore, Okla. and Vian Okla. by taking US-64. Drivers should plan ahead for extra travel time.

Updated traffic information will also be available at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) traffic webpage www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/traffic-advisory.htm.