Construction began on the new 11th Street bridge over the Arkansas River in 1978. The bridge, which was funded by the 1977 bond issue, was completed in the spring of 1980 but did not open until November 1980 because approaches had to be built. The bridge first opened with two-way traffic on the eastbound lanes, at which time the old bridge was closed. The approaches then were reconfigured to abandon the old bridge, and the westbound lanes then were built. This work was completed in 1981, at which time all four lanes on the bridge were opened. The new bridge, shown looking east toward downtown Tulsa, has four lanes and a bicycle/pedestrian lane on the south side. The old bridge is visible at left. In the background is the Southwest Interchange of the Inner Dispersal Loop. Photograph taken February26, 1988.
