Reconnected at last
Lindsey Street bridge at I-35 in Norman opens with fanfare
NORMAN — Some walked, others jogged, rode scooters, bicycled or roller-skated. One woman even Hula-Hooped her way across the newly constructed Lindsey Street bridge over Interstate 35.
Hundreds of people participated in a celebratory crossing of the bridge Friday morning, just hours before the bridge was officially opened to traffic. A DJ blasted the theme music from “Rocky” as the crowd ascended the bridge deck, clapping and cheering as they proceeded across the overpass.
A drone and helicopters circled overhead.
We don’t get to do many of these. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The momentum for the walk just built over the past few days.”
Shawn O’Leary, Norman public works director
Employees with Sooner Legends gave coupons for free appetizers at the nearby restaurant and hotel that have been sorely affected by lengthy construction. Eskimo Joe, a Lindsey Street merchant since 1999, offered free snow
cones to children. Other merchants and sponsors of the walk provided free bottles of water.
Norman Public Works Director Shawn O’Leary said he was not surprised at the crowd that participated in the celebratory walk.
“We don’t get to do many of these. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The momentum for the walk just built over the past few days,” he said.
Lynsey Talmage, owner of a home daycare in Norman, got help from her son Rayden in pulling a pint-size trolley of six youngsters across the bridge.
“It’s very exciting, and the kids love it. We try to do something in the city whenever we can. The kids love to get out and do things like this,” she said.
A lot of children, accompanied by parents and grandparents, either, walked, rode, scootered or skated across.
The bridge officially closed in May 2016 when the old one was demolished. Construction of the $71 million project, which also included improvements to the State Highway 9 interchange, began in 2015. Years of design and engineering work, as well as public hearings, preceded the construction phase.
Mayor Lynne Miller welcomed participants and told them: “I’ve got goosebumps. I want to cry. We are going to have probably the best bridge in Oklahoma, and certainly the widest. This is a great day.”
City officials joined state Transportation Department officials, leaders from the University of Oklahoma, Sherwood Construction crews, Chamber of Commerce hosts and Lindsey Street merchants in welcoming people and encouraging the walk across the bridge. Lander’s Chevrolet on the bridge’s west side provided parking. CART buses were on hand to take people back to the parking area if they were too tired or too hot to return on foot.
University of Oklahoma spirit leader Boomer danced and escorted children across the bridge, stopping often to pose for photos. Pet owners walked their dogs across.
The bridge is on a heavily traveled route for OU Sooner football games.
“I love a parade,” said Scott Donwerth, of Poe Engineering, one of the contracting companies that worked on the bridge.
Co-worker Tommy Evans added, “We’ve been working on this for many years. I’m happy to see the final result come to light.”
The bridge features a new single-point urban interchange with longer I-35 on- and off-ramps, a wider bridge and a single array of traffic signals.
Roy Goetz said he moved to Norman from Fresno, California, two years ago to discover the project was starting. He watched the construction progress and admitted that more than once he thought, “Why does it take them so darn long to build something?”
Miller said some of the biggest participants in the celebratory walk were Lindsey Street merchants and customers who have been frustrated by how long the work has taken.
“We hear every day, every minute how frustrating it is. This is a great day,” the mayor said.
A project to widen Lindsey from 24th Avenue NW to Berry Road is ongoing and is expected to be complete by November.