The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation signed a memorandum of agreement on Friday, Oct. 19 at the Tulsa District headquarters.
Under the memorandum the Corps will provide a dedicated project manager to oversee reviews of regulatory permit applications submitted by ODOT for transportation projects. This position will be funded by the state agency.
Under the governor’s 8 year bridge plan, ODOT is tasked with reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges in the state. Currently, there are 706 bridges identified as part of this list and as many as 600 more could be added. Most of the bridges currently identified as structurally deficient cross rivers or streams and under federal law must undergo a regulatory review by the Corps of Engineers prior to the start of construction.
The new position will expedite these bridge projects during the regulatory review process so that they can be designed and implemented promptly.