The Oklahoma Department of Transportation now says it has decided to postpone the Duck Creek Bridge project until after Labor Day.
We brought you this story Only on 2 earlier this week. Businesses were worried about the bridge closure's economic impact during the summer season at Grand Lake.
ODOT now says it is talking with contractors to start in early fall instead of March. It will give businesses additional time to prepare for closure if needed, and it will allow for an environmental survey update.
When we spoke with those who work or own businesses around the bridge, they said a six-month bridge project over the summer months would be a death sentence. Many feared they could lose up to 75 percent of business.
With the busy season beginning only about 8 weeks away, news of the postponement was welcomed around the lake area on Wednesday.
ODOT says either way, there will be incentives to speed up the construction process, as it knows it will inconvenience people any time of the year. However, because of the age of the bridge – more than 100 years old – it will need to be closed entirely during the work.
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