Oklahoma’s Roller Coaster Bridge Is Finally Getting Fixed

If you’ve ever taken the Creek Turnpike through Broken Arrow and wondered if your shocks were going out, it’s not you. It’s the bridge.

For the better part of 25 years, drivers have been white-knuckling it over the now-infamous “Roller Coaster Bridge” that stretches over Haikey Creek.

It’s not an official nickname, but it’s earned its reputation the hard way, one bump, rattle, and worrying car scrape at a time.

Built in 2001, this pair of bridges (one for each direction) has been jostling commuters so reliably, it’s practically a rite of passage. Go just a little too fast in a low-slung car and you’ll get more lift than a Six Flags season pass.

One local said the bridge actually tore loose part of his undercarriage. Another called it “fantastic” that repairs are finally on the books, and you could tell he meant it in that way people do when they’ve given up hope, then someone finally shows up with a shovel.

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, in its infinite wisdom, says now is the time. OTA just approved nearly $72 million to finally smooth things out. Their contractor, OBC, Inc., starts work this October.

The fix will involve replacing the concrete beams (the source of all that character), decking, parapets, and doing general structural rehab. If all goes well, things might be finished by summer 2027.

Yes, you read that right - 2027... But hey, it only took twenty-five years to get started.

OTA swears the bridge has always been structurally sound and safely inspected. Which is reassuring, if a little like being told your dentist sees no cavities while you’re still in excruciating pain.

Safety’s great, but it doesn’t stop your coffee from hitting the ceiling.

Still, credit where credit is due. They are finally doing something, and it'll only extend the tolls at the booth another few decades or so. So if you’ve ever caught air over Haikey Creek and cursed your alignment all the way to work, relief is on the way. Slowly. Cautiously. Just like you’re supposed to take that bridge.

Until then, maybe ease off the gas a bit. Life’s got enough ups and downs already. We don’t need our infrastructure to pitch in.