One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition

By Brannen ParrishDecember 12, 2025

One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Kevin Archer, quality assurance, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District observes Kiewit construction crews as they prepare an excavator to remove a large section of the bridge railing during demolition of the main spillway bridge over the Tenkiller Dam, Dec. 10, 2025. The Tulsa District is replacing the 70-year-old steel bridge with a modern concrete bridge. The project will take approximately two to two and a half years to complete. (Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish) VIEW ORIGINAL
One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A construction worker from Kiewit uses a torch to cut through expansion joints during demolition of the main spillway bridge over Tenkiller Dam, near Gore, Okla., Dec. 10, 2025.

The Tulsa District began demolishing the bridge piece by piece Dec. 8, 2025 and will replace the bridge completely. Due to the structure’s proximity and connection to the Tenkiller Dam, the bridge demolition process requires careful, piece-by-piece dismantling. (Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish) VIEW ORIGINAL
One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A construction worker from Kiewit uses a torch to cut through expansion joints during demolition of the main spillway bridge over Tenkiller Dam, near Gore, Okla., Dec. 10, 2025. The main spillway bridge was constructed concurrent with Tenkiller Dam in the 1950s. Due to the structure’s proximity and connection to Tenkiller Dam, the bridge demolition process requires careful, piece-by-piece dismantling. (Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish) VIEW ORIGINAL
One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Ed Garcia, safety chief, Kiewit, observes as a crew member from removes a masonry bit from the bridge deck of the main spillway bridge over Tenkiller Dam, near Gore, Okla., Dec. 10, 2025. The Tulsa District began demolishing the bridge piece by piece Dec. 8, 2025 to replace it. The project will take approximately two to two and a half years. (Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish) VIEW ORIGINAL
One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Kiewit construction crew member uses a power cutter to prepare a section of State Highway 100 bridge guardrail for removal, during demolition of the State Highway 100 bridge over the Tenkiller Dam spillway, near Gore, Okla., Dec. 10, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District is replacing the bridge, which rests atop Tenkiller Dam, and must be removed piece by piece. The project is expected to take from two to two and a half years. (Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish) VIEW ORIGINAL
One piece at a time: Tulsa District begins Tenkiller spillway bridge demolition
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Kiewit construction worker sets up a core drill to take concrete samples of the bridge deck during demolition of the State Highway 100 bridge over the Tenkiller Dam Spillway, near Gore, Okla., Dec. 10, 2025. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District is replacing the bridge. The project is expected to take approximately two to two and a half years. (Photo Credit: Brannen Parrish) VIEW ORIGINAL

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District took a major step in the replacement of the State Highway 100 bridge near Gore, Okla., Dec. 8 with the start of demolition efforts.

Crews from Kiewit, the contractor performing the work, used a combination of handheld equipment and heavy machinery to remove the first large section of guardrail from the the 72-year-old bridge, which spans the main spillway of Tenkiller Dam, Dec. 10.

The main spillway bridge was constructed concurrent with Tenkiller Dam in the 1950s.

Because the structure is connected to the dam, demolition of the bridge requires careful, piece-by-piece dismantling.

“We’re going through the demolition process, and there are beams under this bridge that we must protect. So, they're cutting concrete sections of the bridge out between those beams, one piece at a time and pulling those beams out,” said Kristi Higgins, lead project engineer, Tulsa District.

The Tulsa District closed the main spillway bridge Oct. 6, 2025, to build walkways, set up the gantry crane and stage the equipment needed safely to execute demolition and reconstruction.

State Highway 100 is an important thoroughfare for residents and visitors to Tenkiller Lake, said Raymond Todd, project manager, Tulsa District.

“The Tulsa District will provide regular project updates over the course of demolition and construction,” said Todd. “We prioritize worker safety, while executing projects for the public’s safety, and ask for patience while we work to revitalize infrastructure within the State of Oklahoma.”

The existing bridge is a steel structure and will be replaced with a modern concrete structure.

“Bridge safety is what's important,” said Higgins. “We inspect these bridges regularly, and at some point, a bridge just has to be replaced. You can only perform maintenance for so long until you have to rebuild it.”

Demolition should be completed by late February or early March 2026. The entire project is expected to take between two and two and a half years.

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